Division ..  .3^ S-3 

£.5.8  


Shelf. 


Section. 
Number 


DE   PAUW  UNIVERSITY  SERIES. 


MANUAL  OF 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY 

SHOWING  THE 

EVOLUTION  OF  METHODISM 

IN 

THE  UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA 

FOR  THE  USE  OF 

STUDENTS  AND  GENERAL  READERS 


BY 

GEORGE  L/CURTISS,  M.D.,  D.D. 

Professor  of  Historical  Theology School  of  Theology  of  De  Pauw  University 


NEW  YORK  :  HUNT  &  EATON 
CINCINNATI  :  CRANSTON  &  CURTS 
1808 


Copyright,  1892,  by 
XJHSTT  EATON, 
New  York. 


PREFACE. 


This  book  does  not  profess  to  be  an  exhaustive  history  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  much  less  of  Methodism.  It 
is  a  Manual  of  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  History  in  America 
in  a  continuous  story  from  1766  to  the  close  of  1892,  a  period 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty-six  years.  It  aims  to  give,  as  far 
as  possible,  the  leading  facts  in  the  history  of  the  Church  in 
chronological  order  and  in  such  a  manner  as  will  enable  the 
student  to  readily  see  the  relation  existing  between  those  facts. 
The  secessions  from  the  Church,  with  the  causes  producing  and 
the  events  leading  to  them,  have  been  clearly  stated.  That  most 
difficult  of  all  periods  in  the  history  of  American  Methodism — 
the  period  of  the  great  disruption  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  the  formation  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  with  the  suits  that  followed — has  been  treated  in  as  del- 
icate a  manner  as  possible  to  be  true  to  history  and  consistent 
with  the  facts. 

The  necessity  for  this  work  has  been  felt  by  the  author  as 
instructor  in  Methodist  Church  History  in  the  School  of  The- 
ology of  De  Pauw  University.  After  trying  two  works  for  a 
text-book  it  was  found  that  one  ended  with  1843  and  the  other 
with  1866.  Here  was  a  gap  of  nearly  fifty  years  in  one  case  and 
twenty-six  years  in  the  other.  This  gap  was  filled  by  a  series 
of  lectures.  Following  this,  it  was  found  necessary  to  prepare 
a  work,  on  the  same  general  plan,  from  the  commencement  of 
Methodism.  As  a  Manual,  it  is  thought  this  book  will  be  of 
value  to  young  preachers  and  other  persons  who  may  desire  to 


PREFACE. 


know  the  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Should 
life  be  prolonged  and  opportunity  offered  it  is  the  purpose  of 
the  author  to  prepare,  on  a  similar  plan,  the  history  of  the 
*    branches  of  Methodism  in  the  United  States  and  Canada. 

Methodist  history  is  not  complete.  A  growing  Church  has 
a  growing  history,  which  will,  we  trust,  never  be  completely 
written.  * 


CONTENTS. 


PERIOD  I. 

PLANTING  OF  METHODISM— 1766-1784. 
CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Statement  of  its  Origin   1 

II.  Methodism  in  America   10 

III.  The  First  Methodist  Conference  in  America   15 

IV.  Methodism  During  the  Revolutionary  War   19 

PERIOD  II. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH— 1784-1812. 

V.  American  Methodism  Organized   24 

YI.  First  Work  of  the  Organized  Church   35 

VII.  Presiding  Eldership— The  Council — Questions  Settled   42 

VIII.  -The  General  Conference  of  1792   50 

IX.  The  General  Conferences  of  1*796  and  1800   60 

X.  General  Conference  of  1804   69 

XI.  General  Conference  of  1808   75 

PERIOD  III. 

CONTROVERSY  AND  DIVISIONS— 1812-1848. 

XII.  First  Delegated  General  Conference,  1812   83 

XIII.  Methodism  During  the  War  of  1812,  and  General  Conference 

of  1816   87 

XIV.  The  General  Conference  of  1820,  and  its  Work   98 

XV.  The  General  Conference  of  1824   106 

XVI.  The  General  Conference  of  1828— Events  to  1832   115 

XVII.  The  General  Conference  of  1832— Events  to  1836   120 

XVIII.  The  General  Conference  of  1836— Events  to  1840   130 

XIX.  The  General  Conference  of  1840 — Events  to  1844   142 

XX.  The  General  Conference  of  1844 — Its  Doings   160 

XXI.  Events  Following  the  General  Conference  of  1844   181 


CONTENTS. 


PERIOD  IV. 

NEW  LIFE  — 1848-1872. 
CHAPTER  PAGE 

XXIL  The  General  Conference  of  1848 — Events  of  the  Quadren- 

NIUM   190 

XXIII.  The  General  Conference  of  1852 — Events  Following   205 

XXIV.  The  General  Conference  of  1856 — Events  to  1860   213 

XXV.  The  General  Conference  of  1860 — Events  to  1864. . . .   221 

XXVI.  The  General  Conference  of  1864— Events  to  1868   235 

XXVII.  The  General  Conference  of  1868— Events  to  1872   253 

PERIOD  V. 

THE  TWO  ORDERS— 1872-1892. 

XXVIII.  The  General  Conference  of  1872 — Events  to  1876   269 

XXIX.  The  General  Conference  of  1876 — Events  to  1880   287 

XXX.  The  General  Conference  of  1880— Events  to  1884   304 

XXXI.  The  General  Conference  of  1884 — Events  to  1888.   319 

XXXII.  Proceedings  of  the  General  Conference  of  1888   333 

XXXIII.  Events  Following  the  General  Conference  of  1888   343 

XXXIV.  Second  Ecumenical  Methodist  Conference   351 

XXXV.  The  General  Conference  of  1892  and  its  Acts   357 


MANUAL 

OF 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


PERIOD  I. 

PLANTING  OF  METHODISM.  1766-1784. 


CHAPTER  I. 

STATKMENT  OF  ITS  ORIGIN". 

Methodism  is  the  name  of  an  organized  moral  and  religious 
force  tliat  arose  in  England  in  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  that  has  produced  a  spiritual  revolution  in  its  native 
land,  and  has  spread  in  widening  circles  to  other  lands,  produc- 
ing like  results.  The  relation  of  Methodism  to  the  Church  of 
England  is  similar  to  that  of  the  Reformation  under  Luther  to 
the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  Methodism  has  been  defined  to 
be  "  Christianity  in  earnest." 

When  Methodism  originated,  formality  in  worship  and  blind 
assent  to  creed  had  lulled  the  Church  into  a  state  of  spiritual 
apathy  that  was  but  little  removed  from  death.  It  is  true  that 
the  Church  of  England  was  not  persecuting  heresy  or  spirituality 
with  the  sword,  fagot,  and  torture,  as  did  the  Romanists  in  the 
Reformation  ;  yet  the  Church  rested  in  carnal  security  and  blind 
indifference.  Souls  were  sinking  into  a  hopeless  condition,  and 
no  one  cared  for  them.  The  Holy  Spirit  at  this  juncture  called 
John  Wesley  to  a  new  life,  and  after  clearing  his  heart  of  sin 
and  his  eyes  of  blindness  sent  him  out  to  arouse  and  save  the 
multitudes. 


2 


MANUAL  OF 


The  Rev.  John  Wesley  was  born  June  17, 1703,  0.  S.,  in  the 
parsonage  of  Epworth,  Lincolnshire,  England.   His  father,  Rev. 

Samuel  Weslev.  was  rector  of  the  parish,  "  a  man  of 

John  Wesley.  .  _*  .  * 

more  than  ordinary  mental  power,  but  a  poor  finan- 
cier." Susannah  Wesley,  the  mother  of  John,  one  of  England's 
most  beautiful  and  most  talented  women,  was  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  Annesley,  an  Independent  minister  of  ability.  Her  culture 
was  only  excelled  by  her  piety,  and  in  "  domestic  qualities " 
she  was  a  model.  Xine  of  her  nineteen  children  died  in  in- 
fancy, while  ten  lived  to  be  trained  intellectually  and  spiritually 
by  her,  and  went  into  active  life  feeling  the  molding  influence 
of  their  godly  mother.  John  was  her  seventh  son.  The  par- 
sonage at  Epworth  was  burned  when  lie  was  six  years  old,  and 
lie  was  barely  saved  from  perishing  in  the  flames.  The  mother 
dedicated  this  son  to  the  service  of  God,  and  when  he  was  five 
years  of  age  she  began  to  instruct  him  in  knowledge  of  spiritual 
as  well  as  material  things. 

John  was  admitted  to  the  Charter-House  School,  London, 
when  eleven  years  old.  His  teachers  were  able,  and  he  learned 
John  wesiey  rapidly.  At  seventeen  "  he  was  elected  a  student  in 
at  school.  Christ  College,  Oxford,"  founded  by  Wolsey.  From 
seventeen  to  twenty-two  he  continued  a  faithful  student,  em- 
ploying his  time  to  the  best  advantage.  At  the  end  of  this 
period  Mr.  Wesley  received  his  first  ordination,  and  began  to 
preach  the  word.  In  another  year,  or  on  March  17,  1726,  he 
was  elected  a  fellow  in  Lincoln  College,  Oxford.  Yery  soon 
he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  scholarly  men  in  college, 
and  his  "  pure  classical  taste"  greatly  admired. 

The  position,  scholarship,  and  zeal  of  John  Wesley  soon 
gathered  around  him  "a  number  of  thoughtful  and  earnest 
The  Holy  YOUng  men."  Several  of  these,  together  with  him- 
Club-  self,  joined  the  "Holy  Club,"  which  his  brother, 

Charles  Wesley,  four  years  his  junior,  had  formed  at  Oxford  in 
1720.  They  read  frequently  the  New  Testament  in  Greek; 
conversed  on  religious  subjects  ;  engaged  in  prayer,  fastings, 
and  watchings;  religiously  visited  the  almshouses,  and  sought  out 
the  poor.    These  men  lived  by  rule.    Probably  for  this  reason, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


3 


their  fellow-students  called  them  "Methodists."  They  were 
not  ashamed  of  the  title.  In  the  course  of  time  it  became  the 
name  of  a  great  and  honored  religious  body. 

Mr.  "Wesley  became  a  curate  to  his  father  at  Epworth  for  a 
short  time.  He  could  not  consent,  however,  to  remain  in  so 
circumscribed  a  sphere  while  all  the  world  was  wesieyin 
dying.  Governor  Oglethorpe,  having  founded  a  America, 
colony  in  Georgia,  in  the  New  World,  sought  for  missionaries 
to  preach  to  the  colonists,  and  also  to  bring  the  Indians  under 
religious  influence.  In  1735  John  and  Charles  Wesley  went 
out  to  Georgia  on  the  invitation  of  the  Governor.  The  life  of 
John  Wesley  in  the  colony  was  one  of  constant  labor,  prayer, 
and  self-sacrifice.  "  He  held  services  not  only  in  English,  but 
also  occasionally  had  prayers  in  German  and  French.  His 
strictness  of  religious  life,  and  especially  his  severity  of  relig- 
ious discipline,  excited  against  him  the  opposition  of  leading 
families,  and,  becoming  embarrassed  by  them  in  his  ministry, 
in  about  two  years  he  returned  to  England." 

This  coming  of  Wesley  to  America  was,  in  the  providence 
of  God,  one  of  the  fortunate  events  for  his  future  usefulness. 
On  his  voyage  hither  he  had  for  fellow-passengers  Meets  Mo- 
some  devout  Moravians.  A  storm  of  great  severity  ravians- 
overtook  them.  Death  seemed  imminent.  They  were  in  per- 
fect "tranquillity,"  while  he  could  not  feel  such  calmness. 
The  scene,  and  subsequent  conversation  with  them,  produced  a 
marked  impression  upon  his  mind.  While  in  Georgia  he  met 
other  Moravian  ministers  and  freely  conversed  with  them  upon 
the  soul's  perfect  rest.  One  of  them  asked  him,  "  Does  the 
Spirit  of  God  bear  witness  with  your  spirit  that  you  are  a  child 
of  God  \  "    Wesley  knew  not  what  to  answer. 

After  Wesley  returned  to  London  he  and  Charles  often 
visited  the  Moravian  meetings.  Peter  Bohler,  afterward  bishop, 
was  their  minister.  Charles  was  soon  soundly  con-  witness  of 
verted,  and  began  to  write  poems  of  the  new  life.  toespmt. 
John  continued  some  days  longer  in  doubt.  At  last,  on  the 
evening  of  May  24,  1738,  while  attending  the  Moravian  meet- 
ing and  listening  with  a  penitent  heart  to  the  reading  of 


4 


MANUAL  OF 


Luther's  Preface  to  the  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  the  change  came. 
"  I  felt  my  heart  strangely  warmed  !  "  wrote  Wesley.  "  I  felt  I 
did  trust  in  Christ,  Christ  alone,  for  salvation,  and  an  assurance 
was  given  me  that  he  had  taken  away  my  sins,  even  mine,  and 
saved  me  from  the  law  of  sin  and  death.  I  began  to  pray  with 
all  my  might  for  those  who  had  in  a  more  especial  manner  de- 
spitefully  used  me  and  persecuted  me.  I  then  testified  openly 
to  all  there  what  I  now  first  felt  in  my  heart." 

In  the  course  of  that  summer  Wesley  went  over  to  Herrnhut, 
the  center  of  the  Moravian  Church,  to  study  its  genius,  disci- 
visit  to  Herm-  P^ne?  and  order.  At  Marienborn  he  met  Count 
but-  Zinzendorf.    At  Halle  he  met  Francke,  and  exam- 

ined his  orphan  asylum.  The  things  he  saw  and  learned  made 
a  deep  impression  upon  his  mind,  and  doubtless  did  much  to 
influence  him  and  give  shape  to  the  work  upon  which  he  en- 
tered on  returning  to  England. 

Here  is  found  the  first  element  of  the  genius  of  Methodism. 

It  is  "  evangelical  life  : "  a  clear  knowledge,  through 

First  element  &  '  fa  '  & 

of  the  genius  the  testimony  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  heart,  of  sins 
pardoned  and  the  soul's  acceptance  by  Jesus  Christ. 

A  second  element  soon  revealed  itself  in  a  clear  doctrinal 
second  eie-  statement  of  the  processes  of  salvation.  Justifica- 
ment-  tion,  regeneration,  holiness,  and  faith  are  terms  to 

be  definitely  stated  and  scripturally  established. 

On  January  1,  1739,  Wesley  held  a  watch-night  or  love-feast 
First  love-  meeting  in  Fetter  Lane,  London.  John  and  Charles 
feast.  Wesley,  with  Whitefield  and  three  other  ministers 

and  sixty  brethren,  were  engaged  in  this  meeting,  which  proved 
to  be  full  of  power  and  the  precursor  of  wonderful  events.* 
On  January  7  another  of  these  meetings  was  held,  even  more 
powerful  than  the  first.  Societies  of  professed  converts  were 
soon  formed  for  aiding  each  other  in  a  religious  life.  Mr. 
Wesley  saw  the  need  for  strict  methods  of  living,  and  drew  up 
his  "  Rules  of  the  Band  Societies "  on  December  25,  1738, 
which  were  eventually  followed  by  the  "  General  Rules  "  of 
the  Methodist  societies  in  England  and  America. 

*  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  p.  20. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHUIICH  HISTORY. 


5 


In  1739  John  and  Charles  Wesley  were  re-enforced  by  George 
Whitetield,  who  had  been  a  member  of  the  "Holy  Club"  at 
Oxford.  Whitefield,  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  had 
gone  out  to  preach  to  the  people.  Immense  audi- 
ences attended.  These  three  great  men  united  and  went  to  the 
fields  when  driven  out  of  the  churches.  They  preached  at  the 
"fairs  and  merry-makings  of  Moorfields  and  Kennington  Com- 
mons." From  twenty  to  sixty  thousand  people  attended  their 
ministry.  The  Kingswood  and  Newcastle  colliers,  the  besotted 
miners  of  Cornwall,  and  the  "  peasants  of  Yorkshire "  heard 
the  word  of  God  gladly.  The  country  was  moved  with  excite- 
ment over  this  "  new  and  wonderful  work." 

Mr.  Wesley's  account  of  the  first  society  and  the  mode  of  its 
foundation  is  unique  :  "  In  the  latter  end  of  the  year  1739  eight 
or  ten  persons  came  to  me  in  London  and  desired  Acc0unt  of 
that  I  would  spend  some  time  with  them  in  prayer,  flrst  society- 
and  advise  them  how  to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come."  Mr. 
Wesley  appointed  Thursday  evening  as  the  time  for  the  first 
meeting.  Twelve  persons  came  the  first  night,  forty  the  second, 
and  soon  there  were  a  hundred  present  earnestly  inquiring  how 
to  be  saved. 

The  foundation  of  the  first  church  in  Methodism  was  laid  in 
Bristol,  England,  May  12,  1739.  The  Old  Foundry  was  opened 
in  London  for  worship  November  11,  1739.  From  FirstMethod- 
this  place  has  gone  out,  in  widening  circles,  the  great  ist  Cburch- 
work  of  this  most  wonderful  and  providential  Church  to  the 
whole  world.  This  year  is  recognized  as  the  beginning  of 
Methodism. 

The  societies  of  Methodism  increased  far  more  rapidly  than 
ministers.  Mr.  Wesley  could  not  be  every-where  preaching 
and  organizing.  In  London,  while  Mr.  Wesley  was  Laypreacn- 
away,  the  hungry  congregation  desired  the  word,  ing- 
and  Thomas  Maxfiekl,  a  man  of  God,  but  not  a  recognized 
minister,  began  to  preach.  Wesley  heard  of  it,  and  hastened 
home  to  put  a  stop  to  this  irregularity ;  but  the  far-seeing  Su- 
sannah Wesley  called  to  him  to  halt,  with  this  caution,  "  Take 
care  what  you  do  with  respect  to  that  young  man,  for  he  is  as 


6 


MANUAL  OF 


surely  called  of  God  to  preach  as  you  are.  Examine  what 
have  been  the  fruits  of  his  preaching,  and  hear  him  yourself." 
Mr.  Wesley  did  hear  and  see,  and  became  convinced  of  the  genu- 
ineness of  the  call.    This  began  the  lay  preaching  in  Methodism. 

The  growth  of  Methodism  was  not  the  working  of  a  precon- 
Metnodisman  ceived  plan,  but  the  seizing  upon  those  things  provi- 
evoiutiou.  dentially  presented  as  helps  to  the  successful  advance 
of  Christ's  cause.  Thus  the  officers  and  parts  of  Methodism 
known  as  stewards,  classes,  and  class-leaders,  the  itinerancy, 
and  Conferences,  grow  up. 

The  third  element  in  the  genius  of  Methodism  was  its  or- 
Third  eie-  ganization.  This  has  remained  in  the  Church  in 
ment.  a^  ]anc[g  to  the  present  day. 

The  fourth  element  in  the  genius  of  Methodism  was  the 
Fourth  eie-    itinerancy  and  Conference. 

ment-  From  the  first  Mr.  Wesley,  as  well  as  his  brother 

Charles,  and  Whiten1  eld  traveled  extensively  through  England, 
Wales,  Scotland,  and  Ireland,  preaching  every- where  this  new 
gospel,  and  witnessing  conversions.  As  preachers  multiplied  he 
sent  them  from  place  to  place,  changing  them  as  he  saw  fit  and 
suiting  men  to  localities.    This  was  an  "  irregular  itinerancy." 

In  17443  June  25,  Wesley  called  his  preachers  together  and 
First  confer-  held  the  ^re*  Annual  Conference.  It  was  in  Lon- 
ence.  don.    At  that  time  there  were  no  circuits  or  stations 

organized.    Each  society  was  independent  of  all  others. 

Soon,  however,  the  system  of  circuits  was  arranged,  for  at 
the  Conference  of  1746  the  circuits  are  mentioned  as 
organized.  The  preachers  as  well  as  members  increased 
rapidly.  In  1755  there  were  three  lists  of  preachers:  1.  The 
itinerants.  2.  The  half-itinerants.  3.  The  chief  local  preach- 
ers. Alexander  Mather  was  the  first  married  preacher.  He 
was  a  man  of  talents  and  valuable  to  the  societies,  but  would 
not  travel  unless  provision  was  made  for  his  wife.  He  was 
willing  the  allowance  should  be  but  four  shillings  sterling — 
about  one  dollar — a  week.  At  first  it  was  refused,  but  afterward 
allowed.    "  Here  began  the  allowance  for  preachers'  wives." 

Mr.  Wesley  early  began  to  write,  translate,  and  print  tracts, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  7 


books,  and  a  magazine,  which  he  circulated  freely  in  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom.     The  literature  he  created  was 

.  °        .  .  Publishing. 

clean,  pure,  and  interesting.    It  became  an  immense 

power  in  the  early  years  of  Methodism.    The  catalogue  of  his 

productions  is  something  wonderful. 

Even  before  a  single  society  had  been  organized,  in  1739,  in 
connection  with  Whitefield,  "Wesley  had  organized  Kingswood 
the  Kingswood  School  for  the  education  of  the  school, 
children  of  poor  colliers.  Its  first  building  was  completed  in 
1740.  It  became  too  small,  and  in  1748  he  enlarged  the 
building,  and  "  opened  a  school  for  the  education  of  the  sons 
of  preachers."  While  the  school  was  a  great  care  to  him  he 
found  it  amply  repaid  the  outlay,  as  he  began  to  be  furnished 
with  better  qualified  ministers  than  at  first. 

Here  we  find  a  fifth  element  in  the  genius  of  Methodism — 
its  educational  work.     From  Kingswood  School 

.  -n     i  ii  *ii  Fifth  element. 

has  gone  out  a  power  to  all  the  world,  and  hun- 
dreds of  strong  schools  have  been  founded  in  Methodism. 

The  preachers  went  through  the  United  Kingdom  preaching 
the  Gospel  to  dying  men.  Eevivals  followed,  new  societies 
were  formed,  houses  of  worship  built. 

Here  was  the  sixth  element  in  the  genius  of  Methodism — 
revivals.    Persecutions  followed.    Mr.  Wesley  was 

».        .  .-.     j,  i  .    I.-     n  liii  Sixth  element. 

otten  m  peril  ot  Ins  hie  trom  mobs  led  by  men 
who  professed  to  be  servants  of  the  Most  High,  but  who 
acted  more  like  servants  of  the  devil.  He  was  "  frequently 
hooted  and  hissed  by  the  rabble ;  he  was  pelted  and  covered 
with  mud  ;  his  clothes  were  torn  nearly  off  him  ;  he  was  stoned 
and  sometimes  severely  injured  ;  dragged  before  magistrates  ; 
the  doors  and  windows  of  the  houses  in  which  he  lodged  were 
broken,  and  in  some  instances  his  chapels  were  destroyed.  His 
preachers  were  thrown  into  prison,  and  some  died  of  the 
wounds  which  they  received."  In  all  the  time  of  persecution, 
k'  so  far  as  known,  the  persecuting  clergymen  were  never  de- 
graded or  severely  censured  by  their  superiors,"  and  only  when 
the  cases  were  brought  before  the  Court  of  King's  Bench  was 
there  any  protection. 


8 


MANUAL  OF 


These  societies  were  not  recognized  as  yet  even  as  a  dissent- 
ing Church,  but  as  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  from 
unrecognized  whose  clergymen  they  received  the  sacraments, 
asacnurcn.  'p}ie  ass{stants  of  Mr.  Wesley  were  simply  unor- 
dained  lay  preachers. 

On  February  28,  1781,  Wesley  executed  the  "  Deed  of  Dec- 
laration," placing  in  the  instrument  the  names  of  one  hundred 
ministers,  who  were  to  become  the  incorporate  body 

41  Deed  of  Dec-  '  1  <  J 

laration"  or   of  Methodism,  and  were,  as  a  body,  to  be  perpetual. 

This  document  was  properly  executed  and  recorded 
in  the  records  of  the  court,  to  take  effect  on  Wesley's  death. 
This  event  occurred  March  2,  1791,  whereupon  the  "  Legal 
Hundred "  came  forward  and  assumed  the  burden,  and  the 
Church  became  duly  and  legally  recognized.* 

That  it  may  be  known  how  lost  to  spirituality  the  times  were 
when  Mr.  Wesley  came  to  his  work,  we  may  quote  from  a  few 
wickedness  contemporaries.  Bishop  Burnet,  in  1713,  when  sev- 
of  the  times,  enty  years  old,  said:  "I  see  the  imminent  ruin  hang- 
ing over  this  Church,  and  by  consequence  over  the  whole 
Reformation.  The  outward  state  of  things  is  black  enough, 
God  knows,  but  that  which  heightens  my  fears  rises  chiefly 
from  the  inward  state  into  which  we  are  unhappily  fallen."  f 

Bishop  Gibson,  1728,  writes :  "  Profaneness  and  impiety  are 
grown  bold  and  open."  \ 

Bishop  Butler,  1736:  "It  is  come,  I  know  not  how,  to  be 
taken  for  granted  by  many  persons  that  Christianity  is  not  so 
much  as  a  subject  of  inquiry ;  but  that  it  is  now,  at  length,  dis- 
covered to  be  fictitious."  § 

Archbishop  Seeker,  1738 :  "  An  open  and  professed  disre- 
gard to  religion  has  become,  through  a  variety  of  unhappy 
causes,  the  distinguishing  character  of  the  present  age  ;  that 
this  evil  is  grown  to  a  great  height  in  the  metropolis;  is  daily 
spreading  through  every  part  of  it ;  and,  bad  in  itself  as  any 
can  be,  must  of  necessity  bring  in  all  others  after  it.  .  .  . 

*  Simpson's  Cyclopedia  of  Mdhodism. 

\  Pastoral  Care,  preface  to  third  edition,  1713. 

\  Pastoral  Letters.  §  Advertisement  to  first  edition  of  Analogy. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  <J 


Sucli  dissoluteness  and  contempt  of  principle  in  the  higher  part 
of  the  world,  and  such  profligate  intemperance  and  fearlessness 
of  committing  crimes  in  the  lower,  as  must,  if  this  torrent  of 
impiety  stop  not,  become  absolutely  fatal."  * 

Dr.  John  Guyse,  1729,  says :  "  The  greatest  number  of 
preachers  and  hearers  seem  contented  to  lay  him  [Christ]  aside, 
and  too  many  there  are  among  us  that  set  themselves  against 
him.  .  .  .  Do  we  not  already  feel  its  dismal  effects  in  the 
growth  of  infidelity,  in  the  rare  instances  of  conversion,  and 
in  the  cold,  low,  and  withering  state  of  religion  among  the 
professors  of  it,  beyond  what  has  been  known  in  some  former 
days  ? "  f 

These  accounts  miglit  be  multiplied.  Into  sucli  a  condition 
came  John  Wesley  to  reform  the  Church  of  England.  £ 

*  Eight  Charges,  p.  4,  edition  1790. 

f  Twelve  Sermons  Delivered  at  Coward's  Lecture^  edition  1729,  p.  261. 
\  See  Buckle's  History  of  Civilization,  p.  107;  Dr.  Deems's  Chips  and  Chunks, 
p.  46.'},  article  "  Indirect  Influence  of  Methodism." 


10 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  II. 

METHODISM  JX  AMERICA. 

It  is  possible  that  there  were  two  centers  of  Methodism  in 
Possibly  two  America.  Robert  Strawbridge,  a  local  preacher, 
centers.  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  settled  at  Sam's 
Creek,  Maryland,  between  1760  and  1765.  He  was  a  man  of 
excellent  spirit,  but  eccentric.  Some  time  after  becoming  set- 
tled he  commenced  holding  religious  meetings  in  his  house, 
inviting  in  his  neighbors.  After  a  time  (the  date  unknown) 
he,  with  some  neighbors,  erected  a  log-house  about  a  mile  from 
his  home  for  a  meeting-house.  It  was  never  finished,  nor  deeded 
to  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  a  short  time  ceased  to  be  used. 
Since  no  dates  can  be  determined  regarding  this  house,  and  no 
special  work  resulted  from  it,  the  historian  can  only  mention  it 
as  one  of  the  possible  centers  of  American  Methodism. 

The  other  center,  about  which  there  can  be  no  mistake  as  to 
dates  or  facts,  was  in  New  York.  To  catch  the  full  spirit  of 
the  act  of  founding  American  Methodism  it  is  necessary  to  go 
back  to  the  days  of  Louis  XIV.  of  France,  who  late  in  the 
The  Rhine  seventeenth  century  devastated  the  Palatinates  on 
palatinates.  t]ie  J>hinej  because  of  the  Protestant  character  of  the 
people.  It  is  recorded  that  the  "  Elector  Palatine  could  see  from 
the  towers  of  Manheim,  his  capital,  no  less  than  two  cities  and 
twenty-five  villages  on  fire  at  once."  Queen  Anne  of  England 
sent  ships  to  Rotterdam  and  took  over  six  thousand  of  these 
wretched  homeless  ones  to  England.  About  fifty  families  settled 
in  Ireland,  in  Court  Mattress,  County  Limerick.  Here  Mr. 
Wesley's  preachers  found  them,  and  here  he  also  visited  and 
preached  to  them.  In  1760,  August  10,  a  company  of  these 
Palatinates  landed  in  New  York.  There  were  from  eighteen 
to  twenty-five  persons  in  this  company.  It  is  thought  that 
Philip  Embury,  who  was  a  recognized  leader  among  them, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  H 


kept  up  religious  services  for  a  while  ;  but  the  most  of  them  fell 
into  sin  under  the  new  conditions  of  this  strange  and  wicked 
country.  Embury,  becoming  discouraged,  ceased  to  hold  serv- 
ices. Thus  matters  continued  till  1765,  when  several  former 
acquaintances  of  the  Irish  Palatinates  arrived  in  New  York. 
Some  were  Wesleyans.  On  one  occasion,  it  is  said,  Barbara 
Heck,  a  cousin  of  Philip  Embury,  found  a  party  of  them  engaged 
in  card-playing.  Her  righteous  soul  was  tried.  Seizing  the 
cards,  she  hurled  them  into  the  fire,  and  soundly  lectured  them 
upon  their  sinful  course.  There  is  no  evidence,  either  directly 
or  indirectly,  to  show  that  any  of  these  card-players  were  Meth- 
odists. She  went  to  the  house  of  Philip  Embury  and  laid  upon 
him  the  salvation  of  their  lost  friends.  When  he  began  to 
make  excuses  for  not  preaching  she  urged  him  to  be  no  longer 
silent,  but  to  preach  the  word.  She  called  the  people  to  meet 
at  Embury's  house.  A  few  attended,  and  Embury  preached. 
The  members  increased  rapidly.  Soon  two  " classes"  were 
formed,  and  a  larger  place  was  found  necessary  for  worship. 

In  1767,  they  rented  on  William  Street  a  rigging  loft  sixty 
feet  by  eighteen.    One  day,  about  February,  1767, 

•     ±1  -I,.     C  •  ir  1      i  a  •  BlSKinUlaft 

m  the  midst  or  services,  a  soldier  appeared,  clad  m  and  captain 
full  regimentals,  and  devoutly  engaged  in  the  relig-  Webb- 
ious  service.  It  was  Captain  Thomas  Webb,  an  honorable 
officer  of  the  British  army.  The  little  band  of  Methodists 
were  at  first  suspicious  of  this  stranger;  but  very  soon  they 
became  satisfied  as  to  his  integrity  and  purity  of  character. 
He  frequently  preached  to  the  people  with  great  power  and 
acceptability.  He  was  accustomed  to  preach  with  his  sword 
lying  across  the  open  Bible. 

A  larger  place  for  worship  being  required,  Captain  Webb 
entered  heartily  into  the  plan  and  subscribed  £30. 

.  ,         _  -r  -i       n  •      -n-,r%r*        i  John  Street. 

A  site  was  leased  on  John  Street  m  1768  and  pur- 
chased in  1770.  The  first-named  trustee  was  Philip  Embury, 
who  was  also  the  first  class-leader,  first  treasurer,  and  first 
preacher.  On  this  ground  a  stone  chapel  was  erected,  "faced 
with  blue  plaster,"  sixty  feet  long  by  forty-two  in  breadth.  To 
meet  the  prejudice  and  law  against  dissenters  building  "regu- 


12 


MANUAL  OF 


lar  churches,"  a  "  fire-place  and  chimney  "  were  put  in  one  end 
and  it  legally  became  a  house. 

This,  the  first  Methodist  church,  was  dedicated  October  30, 
First  church  1768.  The  sermon  was  by  Embury,  from  Hos.  x,  12. 
dedicated.  T]ie  preacoer  built  the  pulpit.  The  church  was 
called  "  Wesley  Chapel."  Within  two  years  the  place  was 
filled  to  overflowing  with  people  anxious  to  hear  the  word 
of  God. 

The  names  of  three  of  the  persons  thus  connected  with  the 
planting  of  Methodism  in  America  are  historic — Mrs.  Heck, 
Embury,  and  Webb.  Barbara  Heck  removed  to  Upper  Can- 
ada, and  was  instrumental  in  planting  Methodism  in  that  prov- 
ince. Philip  Embury  removed  to  Camden,  Washington  County, 
N.  Y.,  where  he  preached  often,  and  planted  the  Church  in 
Ashgrove,  now  within  the  Troy  Conference.  While  engaged  in 
mowing  in  his  field  in  1775,  he  injured  himself  so  severely  that 
his  death  soon  followed.  He  was  about  forty-five  years  of  age. 
Captain  Webb  founded  societies  in  Long  Island,  Hew  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Delaware.  He  had  great  influence  with  the 
Methodists  in  England.  His  appeal  to  the  Conference  in  Leeds 
brought  added  help.  When  the  Revolutionary  War  broke  out 
Captain  Webb  returned  to  England,  where  he  afterward  died, 
greatly  respected  for  his  godly  life  and  Christian  integrity. 

The  first  preachers  sent  by  Wesley  to  America  were  Richard 
First  preach-  Boardman  and  Joseph  Pilmoor,  who  arrived  at  Phil- 
ers  sent  out.  a(Jelphia  October  24,1769.  Boardman  was  thirty- 
one  years  old,  and  had  been  six  years  a  preacher.  Pilmoor 
was  educated  at  Wesley's  Kingswood  School,  and  had  been  a 
preacher  four  years.  In  the  same  year  Robert  Williams,  a  local 
preacher,  with  Wesley's  consent,  came  to  America  of  his  own 
will.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  friend  Ashton,  who  u  paid 
the  expense  of  his  voyage."  They  landed  in  New  York  in 
1769,  about  two  months  before  Boardman  and  Pilmoor  landed 
in  Philadelphia.  Williams  proved  an  excellent  workman,  a 
clear  thinker,  and  an  ardent  Methodist.  For  six  years  he 
labored  in  the  colonies  as  an  effective  "  pioneer  of  American 
Methodism."    Wakeley  records  that  he  was  u  the  first  Meth- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  13 


odist  minister  in  America  that  published  a  book,  the  first  that 
married,  the  first  that  located,  and  the  first  that  died."  His 
labors  extended  as  far  south  as  Norfolk,  Ya.  Under  his 
preaching  Jesse  Lee  was  converted. 

There  were  other  early  preachers  and  laymen  who  did  heroic 
work  for  Methodism  in  America  :  among  them,  Ashton,  for 
whom  "Ashgrove  Methodist  Society"  was  named;  John  King, 
who  came  in  1769,  preached  in  Philadelphia,  and  "first  threw 
the  banners  of  Methodism  to  the  people  of  Baltimore,"  standing 
on  a  " blacksmith's  block  for  a  pulpit;"  Richard  Owen,  con- 
verted under  Strawbridge's  preaching,  and  who  became  "the 
first  Methodist  local  preacher  raised  up  in  America." 

Whitefield  visited  America  seven  times,  and  traveled  from 
Georgia  up  the  coast  into  New  England,  preaching  whitefleid's 
with  the  same  eloquence  that  distinguished  him  in  death- 
England.  He  greeted  the  Methodists  and  their  preachers 
warmly.  He  died  of  asthma  at  Newbury  port,  Mass.,  ex- 
hausted from  his  great  labors,  September  30,  1770,  and  was 
buried  under  the  pulpit  of  the  Federal  Street  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  Wesley  continued  to  love  American  Methodism,  and 
planned  largely  for  its  advancement.  Mr.  Francis  Asbury  and 
Asbury  and  Richard  Wright  were  sent  out  in  1771.  Wrisht- 
Asbury  was  twenty-six  years  of  age,  and  had  been  about  five 
years  in  the  ministry.  He  was  "  thoughtful,  studious,  and  en- 
ergetic," and  a  preacher  of  great  power  and  method.  Married 
to  the  Church,  he  remained  single,  believing  that  in  that  state 
he  could  accomplish  the  greatest  good.  Few  men  in  any  Church 
ever  excelled  Mr.  Asbury  in  all  the  elements  that  go  to  make 
up  a  great  and  successful  man.  What  Wesley  was  to  British 
Wesleyanism  Asbury  wras  to  American  Methodism.*  Richard 
Wright  did  not  measure  up  to  Asbury  in  any  thing  but  toil. 
He  labored  in  Maryland  and  Virginia,  and  in  1774  returned  to 
England. 

When  Asbury  reached  New  York,  November  12,  1771,  he 
received  a  hearty  welcome  from  Boardman  and  the  members. 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Abridg.,  pp.  60,  61 


14 


MANUAL  OF 


God  was  with  them.  He  soon  found  that  Boardman  and  Pil- 
moor  were  almost  confining  their  labors  to  the  two  cities,  New 
York  and  Philadelphia.  They  were  loath  to  itinerate.  Asbury 
held  fin nly  to  the  itinerancy.  He  said,  "I  have  not  yet  the 
thing  which  I  seek — a  circulation  of  preachers.  I  am  fixed  to 
the  Methodist  plan  ;  I  am  willing  to  suffer,  yea,  to  die,  sooner 
than  betray  so  good  a  cause  by  any  means." 

Mr.  Asbnry  set  himself  earnestly  to  work  a  reform  in  these 
matters.  He  met  with  opposition.  His  zeal  was  abundant,  his 
judgment  perfect,  his  words  persuasive,  his  life  a  living  witness 
to  the  high  purpose  of  his  soul,  and  his  influence  overpowering. 
At  last  he  succeeded  in  his  heart's  desire,  and  established  an 
itinerancy  that  has  endured  with  unabated  strength  for  over  a 
century. 

In  1772,  at  the  Conference  at  Leeds,  England,  Captain  Webb 
made  a  strong:  appeal  for  missionaries  for  America, 

Captain  .  > 

Webb's  plea  then  a  foreign  field.  George  Shadford  and  Thomas 
for  America,  j^],-^  0fjere(]  themselves,  and  were  accepted  by 
Mr.  "Wesley  and  commissioned  for  America.  Thomas  Rankin 
was  a  superior  man,  and  was  appointed  by  Wesley  as  "  General 
Assistant  or  Superintendent  of  the  American  Societies."  He 
was  the  senior  of  Asbnry  and  a  strict  disciplinarian.  These 
two  men  were  choice  spirits.  They  were  endowed  with  native 
ability,  and  had  acquired  great  grace.  They  reached  America 
June  1,  1773,  and  landed  at  Philadelphia  June  3,  where  they 
were  welcomed  by  Asbnry.  Asbnry  at  once  resigned  all  au- 
thority into  the  hands  of  Rankin. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  15 


CHAPTER  III. 

THE  FIRST  METHODIST  CONFERENCE  IN  AMERICA. 

The  first  of  a  long  list  of  Methodist  Conferences  assembled 
for  its  sessions  in  Philadelphia  the  14th  of  July,  1773,  holding 
from  Wednesday  to  Friday.  Rankin  presided.  There  were 
nine  preachers  present.  Asbury  was  detained  in  New  York 
until  the  second  day,  when  there  were  ten  members.  It  was 
twenty-nine  years  after  Wesley's  first  Conference  in  England, 
and  had  present  the  same  number  of  ministers.  All  the  mem- 
bers were  European.  Their  names  were  Thomas  Rankin,  Rich- 
ard Roardman,  Joseph  Pilmoor,  Francis  Asbnry,  Richard 
Wright,  George  Shadford,  Thomas  Webb,  John  King,  Abra- 
ham Whitworth,  and  Joseph  Yearbry.  There  were  one  thou- 
sand one  hundred  and  sixty  members  reported.  Asbnry  dis- 
covered some  preachers  had  not  followed  Mr.  Wesley's  order 
regarding  classes.  Asbnry  contended  that  American  Method- 
ism must  conform  to  Wesley's  rule. 

The  question  of  Wesleyan  discipline  was  an  absorbing  one. 
Would  American  Methodism  be  Wesleyan  or  form  a  new  type  ? 
Two  great  minds  were  there  shaping  matters — Rankin  and 
Asbury.    At  last  six  rules  were  formed.* 

At  this  Conference  commenced  a  discussion  that  did  not  end 
until  the  full  organization  of  the  Church  in  1784 —  Discussion  on 
the  question  of  the  sacraments.  Mr.  Wesley  was  sacraments- 
loyal  to  the  Church  of  England  as  the  Establishment,  and  ad- 
vised his  people  to  go  to  her  for  the  sacraments.  Mr.  Rankin 
attempted  the  same  in  America.  The  premonitions  of  the  ap- 
proaching Revolution  led  the  people  to  restlessness.  Many  of 
the  English  clergymen  were  abandoning  their  posts  and  return- 
ing to  England.  As  a  result,  the  people  were  without  the  com- 
forts of  the  sacraments.    The  Methodists  felt  it  a  hardship  that 

*  See  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  p.  162. 


16 


MANUAL  OF 


their  own  ministers  were  not  permitted  to  consecrate  the  ele- 
ments and  administer  the  sacraments.  Robert  Strawbridsre 
contended  for  the  right,  and  neither  Eankin  nor  Asbury  could 
prevent  him  from  administering  the  ordinance. 

The  agreement  finally  reached  was,  that  all  should  desist  from 
administering  the  sacraments  except  Mr.  Strawbridge,  who, 
under  u  the  particular  direction  of  the  assistant,"  might  continue 
their  administration. 

When  the  Conference  adjourned,  ten  men  went  out  to  their 
respective  fields  of  labor,  William  Watters  and  Robert  Straw- 
bridge  having  been  added  to  the  list  of  those  present  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Conference.  Boardman  and  Pilmoor  did 
not  receive  appointments,  and  in  about  six  months  sailed  to 
England,  "  after  commending  the  Americans  to  God."  In  the 
societies  they  left  2,073  members,  10  circuits,  and  17  preachers. 
In  1774  Wright  returned  to  Europe. 

William  Watters  was  the  first  American-born  itinerant  Meth- 
odist preacher.    He  was  a  Baltimorean  by  birth  ;  born 

Noted  native  1  ,  . 

evangelists  1751;  powerfully  converted  in  1771;  a  preacher  in 
appear^.  1772;  located  in  1782;  re-appeared  in  appointments 
in  1801  ;  again  located  in  1806 ;  and  died  in  1833. 

Philip  Gatch,  a  Mary  lander,  was  born  near  Georgetown  in 
1751,  received  exhorter's  license  in  1772,  and  entered  the  min- 
istry in  1773.  His  conversion  was  a  remarkable  one;  his  spir- 
itual life  was  vigorous  and  clear ;  his  zeal  was  tempered  with 
knowledge.    He  was  a  man  of  excellent  judgment. 

Benjamin  Abbott  in  1773  came  into  notice  as  one  of  God's 
chosen  vessels.  He  was  an  eccentric  man,  a  powerful  preacher, 
a  wonderful  revivalist,  and  an  "  evangelical  Hercules."  In  his 
wicked  days  he  was  a  terror  to  the  country  :  in  his  Christian 
days  he  was  a  flame  of  fire,  a  magazine  of  blessings  to  men. 
His  conversion,  after  a  period  of  overwhelming  darkness, 
was  extraordinary.  As  a  preacher  he  possessed  some  of 
the  most  wonderful  characteristics,  that  went  with  him  to  the 
grave. 

Daniel  Ruff  was  converted  in  1771,  in  Harford  County,  Md., 
and  the  next  year  his  home  became  a  "  preaching-place/'  The 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  17 


next  year  lie  became  an  exhorter,  and  soon  a  local  preacher. 
He  is  characterized  as  "a  man  of  sterling  integrity,  great  sim- 
plicity, and  remarkable  usefulness."  In  1774  Ruff  joined  the 
Conference,  and  started  upon  his  great  work.  One  of  his  con- 
verts was  Freeborn  Garrettson,  who  was  also  by  him  called  into 
the  itinerancy.  Ruff  was  the  "first  native  preacher  appointed 
to  Wesley  Chapel,  New  York." 

Asbury  and  his  fellow-itinerants  went  out  from  the  first  Con- 
ference to  fields  white  to  the  harvest,  though  there  Asbury  and 
were  mutterings  and  thunderings  in  the  political  otterbein. 
horizon.  Asbury  took  up  the  work  in  Baltimore.  Rev.  Mr. 
Otterbein  was  pastor  of  the  new  Lutheran  Church  in  that  city, 
while  Rev.  Mr.  Swoop  was  at  the  old  Lutheran  Church.  As- 
bury as  yet  had  no  chapel  in  Baltimore,  though  one  had 
been  begun.  After  a  friendly  conversation  upon  the  subjects 
of  doctrine  and  discipline  Otterbein  was  led  to  found  the 
Church  of  the  "United  Brethren  in  Christ."  He  adopted  the 
Wesleyan  doctrines  and  much  of  Mr.  Wesley's  church  govern- 
ment. The  Church  has  also  been  called  "  The  German  Meth- 
odists." This  Otterbein  was  a  learned,  godly  man,  a  great 
preacher,  and  a  ripe  theologian.  He  enjoyed  the  fullest  confi- 
dence and  esteem  of  Asbury  and  Coke,  and  in  1784  assisted 
Coke  in  ordaining  Asbury  as  one  of  the  superintendents  or 
bishops  of  Methodism. 

The  second  Conference  of  American  Methodism  was  held  at 
Philadelphia,  May  25, 1774.  Rankin  was  present  as  second  cou- 
chairman.  Seven  preachers  were  admitted  to  the  ference- 
itinerancy.  There  were  reported  2,073  members.  In  this  Con- 
ference the  chief  thought  was  to  stir  each  other  up  in  "  min- 
isterial gifts."  It  was  seen  that  strong  men  were  needed  to 
enter  the  widening  field  of  Methodism.  They  realized  the 
power  of  the  itinerancy  and  Mr.  Wesley's  methods  of  govern- 
ment.   Very  few  sought  to  change  them. 

Asbury  hastened  to  New  York  as  his  appointment.  Some 

additional  missionaries  arriving  from  England  to      Asbury  at 

assist  him,  in  the  latter  part  of  February,  1775,  he  re-     New  York- 

turned  to  Baltimore,  where  he  wielded  a  gigantic  influence. 
3 


18 


MANUAL  OF 


At  this  time  Mr.  Henry  Dorsey  Gongh,  a  man  of  fortune, 
was  soundly  converted,  and  allied  himself  with  the 

Perry  Hall.  , 

Methodists.  His  spacious  mansion  was  known  as 
"  Perry  Hall,"  and  was  located  about  twelve  miles  from  Balti- 
more." From  this  time  "  Perry  Hall  "  became  a  resting-place 
for  Methodist  itinerants  and  a  regular  preaching-place.  The 
great  influence  of  this  layman  in  the  infant  Church  is  beyond 
our  power  to  estimate. 

During  this  year  revivals  followed  the  preaching  of  the 
Methodist  preachers  in  all  directions.  But  as  they 
neared  1775  the  clouds  of  war  grew  darker,  the  pros- 
pects for  peace  died  out,  and  men  began  to  fear  the  bursting 
storm.  Most  of  the  preachers  who  had  come  from  England 
had  returned,  leaving  a  few  men  to  stem  the  tide  and  keep  to- 
gether the  frightened,  scattered  people.  Asbury  was  the  only 
English  preacher  left. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  19 


CHAPTER  IV. 

METHODISM  DURING  THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

The  population  of  the  American  colonies  was  a  heterogeneous 
mass  of  unassimilated  peoples.    From  the  nooks  and 

T-i  _     _  .  Heterogene- 

corners  of  Europe  had  been  gathered  representatives  ous  popma- 
of  many  nationalities  and  tongues,  with  many  shades  tlon' 
of  religious  and  non-religious  belief.  These  were  endeavoring 
to  live  in  some  sort  of  harmony.  Puritans,  Quakers,  Presby- 
terians, Reformed  Dutch,  Episcopalians,  Huguenots,  Roman 
Catholics,  Methodists,  besides  openly  avowed  skeptics  and  infi- 
dels, deists  and  scoffers,  here  found  a  home,  a  place  for  thought, 
and  an  opportunity  to  live  or  die  as  they  might  desire. 

A  common  language  was  being  adopted,  common  customs 
obtained,  common  laws  enacted.  Geographical  separation  from 
the  Old  World ;  slow  and  uncertain  communication  with  the 
home  governments ;  the  rapid  pulsation  of  hearts  beginning  to 
feel  the  enjoyment  of  religious  liberty  and  to  taste  the  sweets  of 
freedom  of  thought  and  will ;  the  development  of  the  latent 
fires  of  a  noble  manhood  that  had  been  smothered  in  the  hearts 
of  men  for  centuries  of  kingly  government  and  priestly  tyr- 
anny ;  and  the  bright  future  ever  dancing  before  the  eyes  of 
these  grand  pioneers,  coupled  with  the  unwise,  impolitic,  cruel 
acts  of  the  mother-country  in  a  tyrannical  enforcement  of  un- 
just parliamentary  enactments,  led  to  a  revolt  of  the  people 
and  a  strike  for  liberty  and  self-government.  A  revolution  was 
inevitable.  The  Western  World  must  be  a  nation  by  herself. 
Independence  in  every  thing  became  the  watchword. 

As  soon  as  the  sounds  of  war  became  alarming  most  of  the 
English  preachers  abandoned  their  people  and  fled 
to  Europe.    Any  thing  else  could  hardly  have  been 
expected,  since  nearly  all  were  more  or  less  attached  to  the 
crown. 


20 


MANUAL  OF 


Mr.  Wesley's  "  Calm  Address,"  reprinted  and  circulated  in 
America,  made  enemies  for  the  Methodist  preachers.  They 
were  rapidly  abandoning  their  posts  of  duty.  Asbury  and 
Shad  ford,  when  the  days  were  darkest,  agreed  to  have  "  a  day 
of  fasting  and  prayer,"  that  the  divine  mind  might  direct  them 
as  to  the  right  course.  Shadford  deemed  it  best  to  return 
to  England,  while  Asbury  saw  the  clear  light  of  duty  and  said 
to  Shadford,  "If  you  are  called  to  go  I  am  called  to  stay;  so 
here  we  must  part."  Asbury  became  fully  identified  with  the 
cause  of  American  independence  and  the  struggling  infant 
Church. 

During  the  Revolution  the  history  of  Methodism  clusters 
Methodism's  almost  entirely  around  the  noble  Asbury.  In  1775 
trials.  jie  visited  Norfolk,  Ya.,  preaching  with  great  accept- 

ability. Near  Norfolk  he  buried  that  excellent  preacher,  Robert 
Williams.  Early  in  January,  1776,  he  met  at  Philadelphia 
Jarratt,  the  godly  rector  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  together 
they  held  a  watch-night  meeting.  Jarratt  administered  the 
sacraments  in  many  quarterly  meetings.  In  March  Asbury  was 
at  Perry  Hall,  where  he  administered  the  bread  of  life  to  many 
hungry  souls.  Here  he  met  Otterbein,  and  was  edified  by  the 
holy  conversation  of  this  eminent  servant  of  God.  Mr.  Gough 
and  himself  went  to  the  Warm  Sulphur  Springs  of  Virginia, 
where,  while  resting  for  six  weeks,  he  preached  to  large  con- 
gregations and  prayed  with  and  comforted  the  afflicted.  On 
his  return  to  the  Baltimore  Circuit  Asbury  did  all  he  could  for 
the  spiritual  help  of  the  people  while  the  horrors  of  war  were 
upon  the  country.  A  few  weeks  in  1777-78  Asbury  was  some- 
what secluded.  In  March,  1778,  he  was  at  the  house  of  a  noble 
•layman,  Judge  White,  of  Kent  County,  Del.,  who,  though  a 
stanch  friend,  was  too  far  advanced  in  life  to  render  much 
public  service.  He  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen.  The  Light 
'Horse  Patrol  came  to  his  house  April  2, 1778,  and,  seizing  Judge 
White,  carried  him  off,  leaving  his  wife  and  children  with  As- 
bury. The  family,  led  by  Asbury,  observed  the  next  day  in 
fasting  and  prayer.  On  April  6  Asbury,  trusting  in  God, 
retreated  to  a  safe  place  of  concealment,  where  he  remained 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  21 


about  a  month,  and  then  returned  to  the  hospitable  home  of 
Judge  White. 

During  this  time  Asbury  was  not  idle.  lie  was  doing  all  in 
his  power  for  the  infant  Church.  By  correspondence  he  touched 
all  the  preachers  remaining  in  the  country.  After  the  greatest 
terror  had  passed  he  came  out  and  started  on  his  mission  among 
the  churches.  As  he  came  to  be  better  known  as  a  true  patriot 
he  had  greater  access  to  the  people.  Large  congregations  came 
to  hear  him.   Many  were  convicted  of  sin  and  turned  to  Christ. 

Methodism  owes  to  such  laymen  as  Gough,  Judge  White, 
Judge  Barrett,  Blchard  Bassett  (one  of  the  signers  Grand  lay_ 
of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States),  and  others  men- 
unnamed,  a  debt  of  gratitude  which  can  never  be  repaid,  for 
their  warm  friendship,  earnest  defense,  and  faithful  adherence 
in  the  darkest  hour  of  the  nation's  peril  and  the  Church's  trial. 
Asbury  fully  appreciated  the  value  of  these  men.  Often  he 
pronounced  upon  them  his  commendations. 

Freeborn  Garrettson,  of  Maryland,  who  had  been  awakened 
through,  the  preaching  of  Daniel  Ruff,  was,  in  1776, 

.  1  .  Garrettson. 

received  into  the  traveling  connection  and  appointed 
to  Frederick  Circuit.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  ability,  of. 
position  and  influence,  of  good  culture,  and  soundly  converted. 
His  call  to  the  ministry  was  marked.  His  family  opposed  him, 
but  with  that  steadiness  of  purpose  that  ever  characterized  him 
he  cast  in  his  lot  with  the  despised  Methodists  and  became  a 
power.  He  was  born  August  15,  1752.  He  was  sorely  per- 
secuted during  the  Revolution,  and  at  one  time  was  nearly 
killed  by  a  ruffianly  assailant.  The  delivery  of  Garrettson 
from  the  hands  of  an  infuriated  mob  was  next  to  a  marvel,  and; 
his  story  reads  like  a  romance.  God  surely  took  care  of  his 
chosen  vessel.  He  traveled  extensively  as  a  Methodist  preacher 
through  the  Carolinas,  Virginia,  Maryland,  Delaware,  New 
Jersey,  New  York,  even  to  Lake  Champlain,  and  in  western 
Connecticut.  We  meet  him  at  many  points  in  the  early  history 
of  Methodism.  He  was  ordained  at  the  Christmas  Confer- 
ence. His  death  occurred  in  New  York  city,  September  26, 
1827. 


22 


MANUAL  OF 


In  1779,  at  the  house  of  Judge  White,  Asbury  held  a  Con- 
ference in  a  very  private  manner.    Not  many  p reach- 
Conference  n  „  . 

at  Judge  ers  were  present,  for  only  a  few  remained  in  the 
country.  Rankin  having  fled  to  England,  the  office 
of  superintendent  was  vacant.  Asbury  was  appointed  to  it  by 
his  brethren.  Having  shown  his  steadfastness  while  his  British 
co-laborers  had  abandoned  the  field,  the  native  preachers  loved 
and  revered  him.  lie  was  about  entering  upon  a  new  career, 
and  beginning  those  journeys  over  the  American  continent, 
in  the  superintendency  of  the  work,  that  were  to  astonish 
the  world  and  plant  Methodism  upon  an  enduring  founda- 
tion. 

Asbury  went  south  and  there  prevented  a  schism  regarding  the 
Danger  of  administration  of  the  sacraments.  It  is  no  wonder 
schism.  that  a  people  deprived  of  the  sacraments  for  years, 
and  wiio  connected  their  observance  with  a  great  blessing  from 
the  divine  Spirit,  should  clamor  that  their  preachers  might  be 
permitted  to  administer  them.  The  people  had  unbounded  con- 
fidence in  their  preachers,  and  could  not  see  why  they  were  not 
worthy  to  administer  the  holy  sacraments.  The  intolerant  spirit 
of  the  clergy  of  the  English  Church,  except  now  and  then  one, 
kept  the  Methodists  away  from  their  communion.  Asbury, 
however,  allayed  the  excitement  and  restored  peace. 

On  returning  from  the  Carolinas  to  the  north  Asbury  preached 
extensively  with  marked  results.  In  May,  1781,  he  hastened 
south  again,  and  continued  thus  traveling  and  preaching  until 
1784.  In  November  of  that  year,  "weary  and  worn  by  travel 
and  preaching,  he  arrived  on  Sunday,  during  public  worship, 
at  his  friend  Barrett's  chapel."  Asbury  found  the  pulpit  oc- 
cupied by  "a  man  of  small  stature,  ruddy  complexion,  brilliant 
eyes,  long  hair,  feminine  but  musical  voice,  and  gowned  as  an 
English  clergyman."  The  man  was  Thomas  Coke,  LL.D.  As- 
bury knew,  as  if  by  inspiration,  that  this  man  must  be  a  mes- 
senger from  Wesley,  who  had  come  as  the  clouds  of  war  broke 
away,  and  that  his  message  was  one  of  peace  and  love.  Ascend- 
ing the  pulpit,  after  the  sermon,  he  embraced  Coke  and  kissed 
him  in  the  presence  of  the  congregation. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  23 


Dr.  Thomas  Coke  was  born  in  Brecon,  Wales,  September  9, 
1747.  He  was  educated  at  Oxford  University,  Jesus  Dr  Thomaa 
College,  and,  after  graduating,  became  rector  of  South  Coke- 
Petherton.  Here  he  became  acquainted  with  the  Methodists, 
and  immediately  became  a  follower  of  Wesley  and  preached 
a  full  and  free  salvation  to  such  an  extent  as  to  "excite  much 
opposition."  He  was  dismissed  from  his  church,  and  a  mob 
rang  the  bells  to  drive  or  "  chime"  him  from  town.  He  was  a 
fine  out-door  preacher.  Great  crowds  of  people  attended  his 
ministry.  Mr.  Wesley,  in  1780,  made  him  "superintendent  of 
the  London  Circuit."  When  Mr.  Wesley  was  preparing  his 
"  Deed  of  Declaration,"  and  obtaining  its  record  in  chancery, 
Dr.  Coke  gave  him  great  help.  When  Mr.  Wesley  determined, 
in  1784,  to  organize  the  American  churches  as  an  independent 
Methodist  Church  he  selected  Dr.  Coke  to  be  the  first  superin- 
tendent. After  carefully  and  prayerfully  considering  the  mat- 
ter for  two  months  Coke  accepted  Mr.  Wesley's  proposition  as 
the  call  of  God. 

The  detailed  results  of  Dr.  Coke's  connection  with  the  organ- 
ization of  American  Methodism  will  begin  in  the  next  chapter. 


MANUAL  OF 


PERIOD  II. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

1784-1813. 

CHAPTER  V. 

AMERICAN  METHODISM  ORGANIZED. 

The  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
America  was  one  of  the  early  momentous  events  growing  out  of 
the  American  Revolution.  This  great  change  made  necessary 
a  corresponding  one  in  the  relations  of  American  Methodism 
and  Mr.  ^Vesley.  Ic  is  apparent  that  the  great  leader  had  given 
ranch  thought  to  the  situation,  and  had  formed  his  plan,  which 
he  had  partially  communicated  to  Dr.  Coke.  Between  the 
close  of  the  war  in  1781  and  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  came  the  organization  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  1784. 

At  the  British  Conference  in  Leeds,  England,  178-1,  the  sub- 
ject of  the  work  in  America  was  carefully  consid- 
discussed  in  ered.  The  American  States  were  no  longer  colonies, 
tributary  to  England,  but  a  free  and  independent  na- 
tion. The  chief  matter  of  concern  was  that  of  ordination.  Wes- 
ley and  Coke  were  both  presbyters.  The  case  of  the  Alexandrian 
Church,  which  provided  its  own  u  bishops  through  ordination 
by  its  presbyters "  for  two  hundred  years,  was  cited.  It  ap- 
peared to  be  a  valid  ordination.  Mr.  "Wesley  abandoned  all  the 
claims  of  virtue  from  M  apostolic  succession."  Soon  the  decision 
was  made.  There  met,  at  Mr.  Wesley's  instance,  at  Bristol,  Rev. 
James  Creighton,  a  presbyter  in  good  standing  in  the  Church  of 
England,  together  with  Dr.  Coke,  Mr.  \Vhatcoat,  and  T.  Vasey. 
Wesley,  Creighton,  and  Coke,  lawful  presbyters  or  elders,  or- 
dained Whatcoat  and  Vasey  as  deacons,  September  1,  1784. 
The  next  day  they  ordained   \Vhatcoat  and  Yasey  elders  or 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


25 


presbyters.  On  September  3  Wesley,  assisted  by  Creighton, 
Whatcoat,  and  Yasey,  ordained  Dr.  Coke  Superintendent  of 
the  Methodist  Societies  in  America,  and  he,  with  others,  subse- 
quently ordained  Asbury.  By  this  stroke  the  "  Gordian  knot" 
of  ordination  was  cut,  and  the  American  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  furnished  with  bishops  first  of  all  the  Protestant 
Churches  in  the  New  World. 

Mr.  Wesley,  who  never  hesitated  when  fully  determined  as 
to  the  line  of  duty,  remodeled  the  Thirty-nine  Articles 

ii.  i  ArticlesofRe- 

of  the  Anglican  Church,  leaving  out  the  one  apper-  iigionand  at- 
taining to  predestination,  and  reducing  them  to 
twenty-four  articles.  Having  also  abridged  the  liturgy  so  as 
to  make  a  proper  "  Sunday  service,"  and  compiled  a  hymn- 
book,  full-freighted  with  Methodist  theology,  he  sent  ihem  by 
the  hands  of  Coke  to  America. 

Mr.  Wesley  also  provided  Dr.  Coke  with  a  letter  to  Mr.  As- 
bury and  the  ministers  of  the  Methodist  societies,  setting  forth 
what  he  had  determined  upon,  and  what  he  wished  them  to  do 
toward  the  full  organization  of  the  societies  into  a  separate 
Church. 

Dr.  Coke,  Mr.  Whatcoat,  and  Yasey  landed  in  New  York 
November  3,  1784,  and  were  hospitably  entertained  Landingoftne 
by  Stephen  Sands,  one  of  the  worthy  members  and  messengers- 
trustees  of  the  John  Street  Church.  The  preacher  wras  John 
Dickins,  who  warmly  welcomed  these  strangers.  To  Dickins, 
first  of  all,  the  scheme  of  Mr.  Wesley  was  unfolded.  He  re- 
ceived it  with  gladness  and  thanksgiving.  Dickins  urged  that 
it  should  at  once  be  made  known  ;  but  Coke  decided  that  it  was 
better  to  consult  Mr.  Asbury  first.  Dr.  Coke  and  his  compan- 
ions set  out  southward  that  week,  and  reached  the  home  of 
Bassett  at  Dover,  Delaware.  Garrettson  was  there,  and  was 
admired  by  Coke  as  a  noble  Christian  minister.  Thence  Coke 
and  Whatcoat  went  to  Barrett's  Chapel,  where,  on  Sunday, 
November  14,  while  preaching,  Coke  first  saw  Asbury.  At 
that  service  Coke  administered  the  sacrament  to  over  five  hun- 
dred communicants. 

That  Sunday  afternoon  Dr.  Coke,  in  a  private  conversation, 


26 


MANUAL  OF 


unfolded  to  Mr.  Asbury  the  plan  of  a  Church  in  America. 

The  subject  being:  afterward  submitted  to  the  preach- 

Meetingof  . 

coke  and  ers  present,  it  was  decided  that  there  should  be  a 
Conference  held  at  Baltimore,  at  Christinas,  when 
the  whole  matter  should  be  settled.  Garrettson  was  sent  out 
to  call  the  preachers  to  Baltimore  at  Christmas.  Most  admir- 
ably did  he  perform  liis  mission,  traveling  over  twelve  hundred 
miles  on  horseback  to  accomplish  it. 

In  the  meantime  Dr.  Coke  was  engaged  in  preaching,  admin- 
istering the  sacraments,  and  strengthening  the  churches  after 
the  apostolical  order.  On  December  17  all  the  travelers,  except 
Whatcoat,  reached  Perry  Hall.  Whatcoat  arrived  on  the  19th. 
Four  days  were  spent  in  this  hospitable  house  in  a  "  revision  of 
the  Rules  and  Minutes,"  and  in  other  preparations  for  the  great 
Conference.  The  conversations  at  this  time  held  between  Coke 
and  Asbury  would,  doubtless,  could  they  be  recalled,  prove  a 
splendid  contribution  to  the  historical  literature  of  Methodism, 
and  would  throw  light  upon  many  obscure  passages  in  connec- 
tion with  the  organization  of  Methodism. 

The  24th  of  December,  1784,  arrived.  Perry  Hall  was  astir, 
conference  at  These  men  of  God  left  this  delightful  retreat  and 
Lovely  Lane.  r0(je  ^0  Baltimore.  Arriving  there,  they  went  at  once 
to  "  Lovely  Lane  Chapel,"  the  church  destined  to  be  as  historic 
in  Methodism  as  is  St.  Peter's  in  Romanism,  and  St.  Paul's  in 
Anglicanism.  Here  at  10  A.  M.  opened  the  first  "  General 
Conference."  Garrettson's  twelve-hundred-mile  horseback  ride 
brought  nearly  sixty  preachers  to  the  first  meeting  out  of  some 
eighty-three  who  were  eligible  to  attend.  Among  these  men 
were  intellectual  giants,  far-sighted  statesmen,  self-sacrificing 
philanthropists,  and  splendid  preachers  of  the  Gospel. 

Let  us  see  what  American  Methodism  was  at  that  moment. 
Methodism  at  The  Minutes  show  that  there  were  83  ministers  and 
the  time.  14,988  members.  These  had  been  gained  since  1766, 
when  Embury  preached  his  first  sermon  in  New  York.  A  few 
had  come  from  England  and  Ireland,  but  the  greater  part  had 
been  gathered  on  American  soil.  As  to  how  many  places  of 
worship  there  were  we  have  no  means  of  knowing.  The 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  27 


larger  cities  of  the  States,  from  New  York  to  Georgia,  were 
occupied,  and  throughout  the  country  the  sound  of  singing, 
preaching,  and  shouting  was  heard.  When  Dr.  Coke  and  his 
companions  came  into  that  General  Conference  in  Lovely  Lane 
Chapel  they  found  a  goodly  company  of  ministers,  representing 
a  constituency  of  laymen  of  whom  no  man  or  country  need  be 
ashamed. 

At  that  assembly  of  nearly  sixty  preachers  Dr.  Coke  read 
Mr.  Wesley's  letter,  written  at  Bristol,  September  10,  Wesley's 
1784.    It  was  addressed  as  follows  :  letter* 

"Bristol,  September  10,  1784. 
"  To  Dr.  Coke,  Mr.  Asbury,  and  our  Brethren  in  North 
America : 

" 1.  By  a  very  uncommon  train  of  providences  many  of  the 
provinces  of  North  America  are  totally  disjoined  from  the 
British  Empire  and  erected  into  independent  States.  The  En- 
glish government  has  no  authority  over  them,  either  civil  or 
ecclesiastical,  any  more  than  over  the  States  of  Holland.  A 
civil  authority  is  exercised  over  them,  partly  by  the  Congress, 
partly  by  the  State  Assemblies.  But  no  one  either  exercises 
or  claim*  any  ecclesiastical  authority  at  all.  In  this  peculiar 
situation  some  thousands  of  the  inhabitants  of  these  States  de- 
sire my  advice,  and  in  compliance  with  their  desire  I  have 
drawn  up  a  little  sketch. 

"  2.  Lord  Kind's  Account  of  the  Primitive  Church  convinced 
me,  many  years  ago,  that  bishops  and  presbyters  are  the  same 
order,  and,  consequently,  have  the  same  right  to  ordain.  For 
many  years  I  have  been  importuned,  from  time  to  time,  to  ex- 
ercise this  right,  by  ordaining  part  of  our  traveling  preachers. 
But  I  have  still  refused,  not  only  for  peace'  sake,  but  because 
I  was  determined  as  little  as  possible  to  violate  the  established 
order  of  the  National  Church,  to  which  I  belong. 

"  3.  But  the  case  is  widely  different  between  England  and 
North  America.  Here  there  are  bishops  who  have  a  legal 
jurisdiction  ;  in  America  there  are  none,  neither  any  parish 
ministers :  so  that  for  some  hundred  miles  together  there  is  none 


28 


MANUAL  OF 


either  to  baptize  or  to  administer  the  Lord's  Supper.  Here, 
therefore,  my  scruples  are  at  an  end ;  and  I  conceive  myself 
at  full  liberty,  as  I  violate  no  order  and  invade  no  man's  right 
by  appointing  and  sending  laborers  into  the  field. 

"4.  I  have  accordingly  appointed  Dr.  Coke  and  Mr.  Francis 
Asbury  to  be  joint  superintendents  over  our  brethren  in  North 
America;  as  also  Richard  Whatcoat  and  Thomas  Vasey  to  act 
as  elders  among  them,  by  baptizing  and  administering  the 
Lord's  Supper. 

"5.  If  any  one  will  point  out  a  more  rational  and  scriptural 
way  of  feeding  and  guiding  these  poor  sheep  in  the  wilderness 
I  will  gladly  embrace  it.  At  present  I  cannot  see  any  better 
method  than  that  I  have  taken. 

"  6.  It  has,  indeed,  been  proposed  to  desire  the  English  bish- 
ops to  ordain  part  of  our  preachers  for  America.  But  to  this  I 
object,  (1)  I  desired  the  Bishop  of  London  to  ordain  only  one; 
but  could  not  prevail.  (2)  If  they  consented,  we  know  the 
slowness  of  their  proceedings ;  but  the  matter  admits  of  no 
delay.  (3)  If  they  would  ordain  them  now,  they  would  like- 
wise expect  to  govern  them.  And  how  grievously  wrould  this 
entangle  us !  (4)  As  our  American  brethren  are  now  totally  dis- 
entangled both  from  the  state  and  from  the  English  hierarchy, 
we  dare  not  entangle  them  again,  either  with  the  one  or  the 
other.  They  are  now  at  full  liberty  simply  to  follow  the  Script- 
ures and  the  primitive  Church  ;  and  we  judge  it  best  that  they 
should  stand  fast  in  that  liberty  wherewith  God  has  so  strangely 
made  them  free.  John  Wesley." 

This  document  made  a  profound  impression  on  the  members 
impression  °^  the  General  Conference.  In  accordance  with 
made.  jts  suggestions  "  it  was  agreed,"  says  Asbury,  "  to 

form  ourselves  into  an  Episcopal  Church,  and  to  have  superin- 
tendents, elders,  and  deacons."  "  The  preacher  who  suggested 
the  name  of  the  Church  was  John  Dickins."  All  the  action 
of  this  body  was  under  a  sense  of  the  divine  guidance  and  with 
a  single  eye  to  God's  glory.  At  noon  of  each  day,  "  except 
ordination  days  and  Sundays,"  Dr.  Coke  preached,  two  of 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  29 


the  sermons  being  upon  the  ministerial  offiee.  In  the  morning 
and  evening  others  preached.  In  other  churches  also,  and 
especially  at  Otterbein's,  were  these  Methodist  preachers  wel- 
come. Methodism  arid  the  Churches  generally  in  and  around 
Baltimore  received  a  great  blessing  during  this  Conference, 
and  an  impression  was  made  for  good  never  to  be  effaced. 

Mr.  Asbury  refused  to  be  ordained  a  superintendent,  as  ap- 
pointed by  Wesley,  unless  the  Conference  should  CokeandAs_ 
elect  him,  whereupon  the  Conference  formally  blirr  elected 
elected  Coke  and  Asbury  to  the  superin tendency. 
Asbury  was  ordained  a  deacon,  says  Whatcoat,  on  the  second 
day  of  the  session.  On  Sunday,  or  the  third  day,  he  was  or- 
dained an  elder  by  Dr.  Coke,  assisted  by  Whatcoat  and  Yasey. 
On  Monday  he  was  ordained  a  superintendent  or  bishop  by 
Dr.  Coke,  assisted  by  Otterbein,  of  the  German  Church,  and 
Whatcoat  and  Yasey,  the  two  elders  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

The  sermon  of  Dr.  Coke,  delivered  on  the  occasion  of  the 
ordination  of  Asbury,  was  published.*  When  deliv-  Coke,s  ger_ 
ered  it  produced  a  marked  impression.  After  describ-  mon. 
ing  a  good  bishop  and  his  power,  he  spoke  of  a  bad  one  as  fol- 
lows :  "  You  may  now  perceive  the  dreadful  effects  of  raising 
immoral  or  unconverted  men  to  the  government  of  the  Church. 
The  baneful  influence  of  their  example  is  so  extensive  that  the 
skill  and  cruelty  of  devils  can  hardly  fabricate  a  greater  curse 
than  an  irreligious  bishop."  Turning  to  Asbury  he  said  :  "  But 
thou,  O  man  of  God,  follow  after  righteousness,  godliness,  pa- 
tience, and  meekness.  Be  an  example  to  the  believers  in  word, 
in  conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity.  Keep 
that  which  is  committed  to  thy  trust.  Be  not  ashamed  of  the 
testimony  of  our  Lord,  but  a  partaker  of  the  afflictions  of  the 
gospel  according  to  the  power  of  God.  Endure  hardness  as  a 
good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  Do  the  work  of  an  evangelist, 
and  make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry,  and  thy  God  will  open  to 
thee  a  wide  door,  which  all  thy  enemies  shall  not  be  able  to 
shut.    He  will  carry  his  Gospel  by  thee  from  sea  to  sea  and 

♦See  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  1840,  p.  241. 


30 


MANUAL  OF 


from  one  end  of  the  continent  to  another."  Then,  reverently 
appealing  to  God,  he  said:  "O  Thou  who  art  the  Holy  One 
and  the  True,  consecrate  this  thy  servant  with  the  fire  of  divine 
love;  separate  him  for  thy  glorious  purpose;  make  him  a  star 
in  thine  own  right  hand,  and  fulfill  in  him  and  by  him  the  good 
pleasure  of  thy  goodness!" 

The  General  Conference  elected,  and  Coke  and  Asbury  or- 
dained, Freeborn  Garrettson  and  James  O.  Crom- 

Ordinations. 

well  elders  for  Xova  Scotia,  where  faithful  Method- 
ists were  calling  for  fully  ordained  ministers.  Ten  others  were 
ordained  to  the  office  of  elders  and  three  others  chosen  to  the 
office  of  deacons  for  work  in  the  States.  While  there  has  not 
been  preserved  a  journal  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Christmas 
Conference,  the  Church  is  well  supplied  with  information  as  to 
what  was  clone  in  the  printed  volume,  "  A  Form  of  Discipline 
for  the  Ministers,  Preachers,  and  other  Members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  in  America."  This  was  published  in 
1785  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  next  year  it  was  re-issued  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Wesley  in  London. 

The  principal  work  of  the  Christmas  Conference  was: 

1.  The  organization  of  the  Methodist  Societies  of  America 
into  an  "  independent  Church,  to  be  known  as  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church." 

2.  The  election  and  ordination  of  Francis  Asbury  to  be  a 
superintendent  or  bishop. 

3.  The  election  and  ordination  of  elders  for  Nova  Scotia. 

4.  The  election  and  ordination  of  preachers  to  the  office  of 
elder. 

5.  The  election  of  three  other  preachers  to  the  office  of 

deacon.* 

6.  The  adoption  of  the  twenty-four  Articles  of  Religion  sent 
by  Mr.  Wesley.  The  "  Christian  Conference  "  added  one  article 
— the  present  twenty-third — making  the  whole  number  twenty- 
five. 

7.  The  recognition  of  the  "Large  Minutes"  as  authority  in 

*  John  Dickiris  was  ordained  at  that  time,  but  Ignatius  Pigman  and  Caleb  Bozer 
were  not  ordained  until  the  next  June.    (McTyeire's  History  of  Methodism,  p.  349.) 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  31 


the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to  which 
were  added  some  special  enactments  suited  to  America. 

8.  The  adoption  of  the  "Sunday  Service"  and  "Hymns" 
sent  over  by  Mr.  Wesley  as  part  of  the  liturgy  of  American 
Methodism. 

9.  The  consideration  and  publication  of  a  denunciation  of 
slavery  in  very  strong  terms,  requiring  emancipation  of  slaves 
held  by  Methodists  at  specified  age. 

10.  The  fixing  of  the  allowance  of  preachers  and  their 
families. 

11.  The  defining  of  the  persons  who  might  attend  the 
communion. 

12.  The  settlement  of  the  question  of  the  mode  of  baptism, 
by  giving  candidates  the  choice  of  either  of  the  modes. 

13.  The  exclusion  of  members  who  "persistently  neglect 
their  class-meetings,"  and  who  do  not  mend  their  lives  after 
suitable  admonitions. 

14.  The  discouraging  of  members  from  marrying  "  unawak- 
ened  persons"  by  the  expulsion  of  offenders ;  which  in  1804  was 
changed  to  "  putting  back  on  trial  for  six  months." 

15.  The  adoption  of  Article  XXIII,  "  Of  the  Rulers  of  the 
United  States  of  America,"  thereby  as  a  Church  fully  recog- 
nizing the  government  of  the  United  States. 

16.  The  adoption  of  the  plan  for  founding  Cokesbury  Col- 
lege, the  first  educational  institution  in  the  history  of  American 
Methodism. 

The  doctrinal  character  of  American  Methodism  was  clearly 
marked  in  the  acts  of  the  Christmas  Conference.  Doctrinal 
The  twenty-four  Articles  of  Religion  sent  over  by  Methodism. 
Mr.  Wesley  were  an  abridgment  of  the  thirty-nine  Articles  of 
the  Church  of  England.  The  reduction  was  largely  by  an 
elimination  of  those  things  objectionable  to  Mr.  Wesley. 

1.  He  eliminated  the  article  on  "predestination  and  elec- 
tion." Though  reared  in  and  ordained  under  those  Calvinistic 
doctrines,  his  mind,  after  long  and  careful  study  of  God's  word, 
had  undergone  great  changes.  He  repudiated  Augustine's  pre- 
destination and  Calvin's  reprobation.   While  he  greatly  admired 


32  MANUAL  OF 

these  teachers  and  their  general  orthodox)',  here  he  widely 
differed  from  them. 

2.  Wesley  introduced  a  pure  Arminianism.  He  distinguished 
between  the  thought  of  free  grace  and  personal  responsibility 
as  taught  by  James  Arminius  and  the  "  elaborations  of  his  sys- 
tem by  Episcopius  and  Limborch." 

Well  has  Stevens  said,  "  His  Arminianism  was  far  from  beinor 
that  mongrel  system  of  semi-Pelagianism  and  semi-Socinianism 
which  for  generations  was  denounced  by  New  England  theolo- 
gians as  Arminianism,  until  the  most  erudite  Calyinistic  author- 
ity of  the  Eastern  States  (Stuart,  of  Andover)  rebuked  the  base- 
less charge,  and  bade  his  brethren  be  no  longer  guilty  of  it."  * 

3.  Wesley  struck  out  all  "  traditional  opinions"  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  Church  which  were  retained  by  the  men  who  formed 
the  thirty-nine  articles.  He  was  in  a  much  clearer  light  than 
they.  The  shackles  of  unscriptural  dogmas  had  been  broken 
from  his  mind,  and  he  had  a  clearer  perception  of  the  folly  of 
these  traditions. 

4.  While  the  Wesleyan  doctrines  of  "  assurance  "  and  "  sanc- 
tification,"  or,  as  Wesley  chose  to  call  the  latter,  "Christian 
Perfection/'  are  not  in  the  Articles  of  Religion  except  infer- 
entially,  because  they  were  so  clearly  scriptural,  and  taught  in 
the  Greek,  Roman,  and  Protestant  Churches,  and  by  the  great 
divines  of  the  age,  yet  Mr.  Wesley  had  amplified  them  in  the 
Large  Minutes,  and  as  they  were  a  part  of  his  system  he  did 
not  specially  need  to  mention  them.  He  made  these  somewhat 
peculiar  and  special  in  Methodism  by  emphasizing  them  as  no 
preceding  theologian  had  done,  thus  stamping  upon  the  great 
heart  of  Methodism  a  belief  in  and  love  for  these  fundamental 
doctrines  which  were  destined  to  give  a  peculiar  character  to 
this  people  of  God. 

The  success  of  Methodism  lias  largely  depended  upon  three 
things,  namely : 

1.  The  scripturalness  and  purity  of  her  doctrines. 

2.  The  perfectness  of  her  disciplinary  system,  when  duly 
carried  out. 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  p.  209. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


33 


3.  The  blessing  of  God  upon  the  preaching  of  scriptural 
truth  and  the  consecration,-  spirituality,  and  enthusiasm  of  a 
converted  ministry  and  people. 

"The  Christmas  Conference  was  the  first  General  Confer- 
ence," says  Stevens ;  *  "  that  is  to  say,  all  the  Annual 

'       J  '  J7  The  first  Gen- 

Conferences  were  supposed  to  be  there  assembled.  It  erai  confer- 
was,  therefore,  the  supreme  judicatory  of  the  Church. 
It  was  not  yet  a  delegated  body,  but  the  whole  ministry  in 
session.  It  made  no  provision  for  any  future  session  of  the 
kind,  but  for  some  years  legislative  enactments  of  a  general 
character  were  made  as  heretofore,  every  new  measure  being 
submitted  to  each  Annual  Conference  by  the  superintendents, 
and  a  majority  of  all  the  Conferences  being  necessary  to  its 
validity.  A  second  General  Conference  was  held,  however,  in 
1792,  no  official  minutes  of  which  are  extant.  The  third  session 
was  held  in  1796,  a  compendium  of  the  minutes  of  which  was 
published.  Thereafter  a  session  has  been  held  regularly  every 
four  years  and  the  minutes  of  each  preserved.  In  the  session 
of  1808  a  motion  was  adopted  for  the  better  organization  of 
the  Conference  as  a  'delegated'  body.  In  1812  it  met  in  New 
York  city  as  a  'delegated  General  Conference,'  under  consti- 
tutional restrictions,  which  gave  it  the  character  of  a  renewed 
organization." 

This  Christmas  Conference  continued  in  session  tea  days. 
The  view  Dr.  Coke  took  of  the  members  he  expressed  as  fol- 
lows:' "I  admire  the  American  preachers.  .  .  ..  They  are  in- 
deed a  body  of  devoted,  disinterested  men,  but  most  of  them 
young." 

The  people  at  large  were  delighted  with  this  organization 
of  the  Methodist  societies  into  a  Church.  Says  Lee  :  The  church 
fck  The  Methodists  were  pretty  generally  pleased  at  our  ^tented, 
becoming  a  Church,  and  heartily  united  together  in  the  plan 
which  the  Conference  had  adopted,  and  from  that  time  religion 
greatly  revived."  William  Watters  says  :  "  We  became,  instead 
of  a  religious  society,  a  separate  Church.  This  gave  great  satis- 
faction through  all  our  societies."    That  clear  writer,  Ezekiel 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churchy,  vol.  ii,  p.  219. 
4 


34 


MANUAL  OF 


Cooper,  says  :  Ct  This  step  met  with  general  approbation,  both 
among  the  preachers  and  members."  * 

The  general  superintendents  were  called  "bishops"  from  the 
Tbe  general  year  1787,  for  the  reason  set  forth  in  the  Discipline  : 
superintend-   «  As  tll  translators  of  our  version  of  the  Bible  have 

ents  called 

bishops.  used  the  English  word  bishop  instead  of  superintend- 
ent, it  has  been  thought  by  us  that  it  would  appear  more  script- 
ural to  adopt  the  term  bishop."  f 

Mr.  Wesley  gave  Dr.  Coke  a  proper  letter  or  certificate  of 
Wesley's  let-  ordination  as  a  superintendent  for  the  people  of  North 
tertocobe.  America  who  desired  to  "continue  under"  his  care. 
Bishop  Coke  furnished  Mr.  Asbury  with  a  certificate  of  con- 
secration to  "  the  office  of  a  superintendent  in  the  said  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,"  dated  and  sealed  December  27,  1784. 

The  Christmas  Conference  adjourned  on  the  third  day  of 
January,  1785,  and  the  Methodist  societies  were  launched  upon 
the  world  as  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  independent  in 
every  respect  of  State  authority  and  the  influences  of  other 
Churches,  depending  wholly  and  solely  upon  divine  grace,  a 
holy  faith,  and  a  burning  zeal. 

♦Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,,  vol.  i,  pp.  165,  166. 
f  Ibid.,  p.  154,  note. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


35 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIRST  WORK  OF  THE  ORGANIZED  CHURCH. 

When  Methodism  commenced  its  independent  march  in  the 
New  World  in  1785  it  was  with  more  than  14,988 

.  •  -I        i  i  i  •  i  i  Statistics. 

members,  eighty-three  preachers,  two  bishops,  and  two 
elders — making  a  ministerial  force  of  eighty-seven.  Of  the 
members,  1,607  were  north  of  what  is  now  known  as  "  Mason 
and  Dixon's  line,"  and  13,381  south  of  it.  Methodism  had  a 
system  of  doctrines  that  could  be  preached  in  their  entirety 
without  a  blush  or  apology.  The  Church  had  a  system  of  gov- 
ernment wholly  apostolical,  somewhat  military,  altogether  free 
in  its  exercise,  endowed  with  possibilities  beyond  the  surmise  of 
the  most  sanguine,  and  equally  successful  in  the  largest  cities 
and  the  most  sparsely  populated  country.  While  it  had  suf- 
fered greatly  during  the  depressing  scenes  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  it  had  since  recuperated,  so  that  its  congregations  were  the 
largest  in  the  land.  The  English  Church  was  now  almost  bereft 
of  its  clergy,  and  its  members  were  obliged  for  a  season  to  de- 
pend on  the  ministry  of  other  denominations. 

There  was  an  arrangement  for  three  Annual  Conferences  for 
the  year.  Asbury  preached  his  first  sermon  after  Three  Annual 
being  consecrated  a  bishop  January  3,  1785,  at  Bal-  conferences, 
timore.  His  text  was  an  index  of  the  man  (Eph.  iii,  8) :  "  Unto 
me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given, 
that  I  should  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches 
of  Christ." 

Coke  left  Baltimore  for  Perry  Hall,  thence  going  northward 
to  minister  to  the  people.  Asbury  started  to  the  south,  preach- 
ing every-where  as  before,  with  great  acceptability,  and  laying 
the  foundations  of  Methodism  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  Coke  after- 
ward met  Asbury  at  Conferences  in  North  Carolina  and  Vir- 
ginia.   He  then  went  westward  to  the  Blue  Ridge,  and  thence 


36 


MANUAL  OF 


to  Mount  Yernon,  where  occurred  a  memorable  interview  with 
General  Washington.  After  dining  with  Washington  the  sub- 
ject of  slavery  was  introduced,  and  the  great  patriot  expressed 
himself  in  strong  language  as  being  desirous  of  the  extirpation 
of  the  evil. 

The  two  bishops  met  the  preachers  in  Conference  at  Balti- 
Baitimore  more  June  1,  1785.  It  had  been  thought  expedient 
conference     f0r  Bishop  Coke  to  return  to  Europe,  and  as  he  was 

of  1785.  .  r.  •    .  ii 

to  leave  the  next  day  he  preached  at  noon  a  sermon 
on  ministerial  faithfulness.  The  Conference  continued  its 
session  until  midnight.  The  next  morning  he  again  delivered 
a  sermon  on  St.  Paul's  exhortation  to  the  Ephesian  elders 
(Acts  xx). 

The  two  bishops  had  planned  an  educational  institution  for 
Methodism,  for  which  Coke  and  Asbury  collected 
funds?  On  Sunday  the  5th  day  of  June,  1785,  Bishop 
Asbury  laid  the  corner-stone  of  Cokesbury  College,  at  Abing- 
don, Md.,  about  twenty-five  miles  from  Baltimore.  The  place 
selected  for  the  college  was  one  of  the  most  eligible  and  pictur- 
esque in  the  East.  An  elaborate  plan  for  the  government  of 
the  school  was  drawn  by  Bishop  Coke,  sanctioned  by  the  Con- 
ference, and  published  jointly  by  the  bishops  on  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Christmas  Conference.  The  plan  was  a  masterly 
grasp  of  all  the  needs  and  work  of  a  great  Christian  college 
appropriate  to  the  times.  It  is  worthy  of  careful  study. *  The 
building  erected  was  108  feet  long  by  40  in  breadth.  It  was 
well  arranged  for  lodging  students  and  for  recitation-rooms.  It 
was  opened  December  8,  9,  and  10,  1787,  by  Bishop  Asbury, 
with  appropriate  religious  ceremonies.  His  text  at  the  dedica- 
tion was  2  Kings  iv,  40 :  "  O  thou  man  of  God,  there  is  death 
in  the  pot." 

This  school  became  a  great  favorite  with  the  Church.  It 
was  a  school  of  the  highest  grade.    Coke  and  Asbury 

Cokesbury  f  i  •       •  e    ,  a 

college  a    occasionally  conducted  the  examinations  ot  the  classes. 

After  eight  years  of  service,  on  the  night  of  December 
7,  1795,  it  took  fire  and  was  destroyed.    Greatly  dispirited  by 
*  See  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  i,  pp.  230-240. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  37 


this  accident,  Asbury  was  for  abandoning  the  enterprise;  but 
some  friends  in  Baltimore  subscribing  generously  toward  the 
purchase  of  a  vacant  building  in  that  city  it  was  bought,  and  a 
school  duly  opened.  A  church  was  built  on  a  part  of  these 
grounds.  This  school  opened  with  even  better  prospects  than 
the  former;  but  in  a  short  year  from  the  former  conflagration 
fire  again  swept  all  away.  Then  Methodism  let  the  matter  of 
higher  education  rest  for  a  few  years. 

From  the  time  that  Bishop  Coke  sailed  for  Europe  in  1785 
until  his  return,  March,  1787,  Asbury  wras  alone  in 
the  care  of  the  churches  and  exercise  of  the  epis-  Asbury  aIone 
copal  office.  His  travels  extended  back  and  forth  from  New 
York  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  and  every-where  he  was  the  same 
tireless,  watchful  worker  for  the  Master,  careful  of  every  inter- 
est of  the  Church. 

In  March,  1787,  Coke  met  Asbury  at  Charleston,  where  he 
dedicated  a  new  and  spacious  chapel,  and  found  Coke,s  return 
Methodism  flourishing.  Together  they  proceeded  toAmerica. 
north.  Coke  gives  a  graphic  description  of  the  journey,  over 
bad  roads,  fording  streams,  wading  through  "  swamps  and  mo- 
rasses," and  often  "  on  horseback  till  midnight." 

When  they  reached  Philadelphia  it  was  thought  necessary 
that  Coke  should  again  visit  Europe ;  consequently  he  embarked 
June  25,  1787. 

After  Bishop  Asbury  had  visited  the  Churches  in  the  north 
he  went  south  to  Georgia,  holding  Conferences  and  preaching 
constantly.  In  1788  he  took  a  north-west  course  through  the 
wilderness  and  ascended  the  Alleghanies,  crossing  the  mountain 
barrier  which  he  called  the  "steel,"  "stone,"  and  "iron" 
mountains,  and  entered  the  Mississippi  valley.  Soon  he  met 
John  Tunnell,  a  preacher  of  no  mean  ability.  He  hastened 
to  Half  Acres,  Term.,  where  he  held  the  first  Conference  in  the 
great  West;  it  wras  in  May,  1788.  Asbury  says,  "We  held 
our  Conference  three  days,  and  I  preached  each  day.  The 
weather  was  cold,  the  room  without  fire,  and  otherwise  uncom- 
fortable." The  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  preachers  who  com- 
posed this  first  "  ultramontane  Methodist  Conference"  impressed 


38 


MANUAL  OF 


Asbury  as  being  such  as  would  push  the  cause  of  souls  to  the 
utmost  success. 

Turning  eastward,  Asbury  crossed  into  North  Carolina,  from 
whence  he  went  north  through  Virginia  to  Uniontown,  Pa. 
Here  he  held  a  Conference,  commencing  July  22,  1788,  with 
Whatcoat  and  eleven  other  preachers.  Rev.  Michael  Leard 
was  ordained  by  Bishop  Asbury.  assisted  by  Whatcoat.  This 
was  the  first  ordination  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 

For  about  a  year  Whatcoat  was  Asbury's  traveling  compan- 
ion, after  which  he  went  to  a  district  which  extended  from 
Maryland  to  the  Redstone,  and  from  Philadelphia  to  Pittsburg. 

Methodism  was  introduced  into  the  great  West  in  1781  by 
Methodism  in  R°Dert  Wooster,  a  local  preacher  of  talent,  who 
the  west.  labored  in  the  Redstone  country.  Souls  were  con- 
verted by  his  preaching  and  societies  were  formed  (Quinn's 
Life).  A  call  was  made  for  a  preacher.  Jeremiah  Lambert 
penetrated  the  Holston  country  in  Tennessee  in  1783,  having 
been  appointed  to  that  work.  The  same  year  Francis  Poy- 
thress,  who  was  traveling  the  Alleghany  Circuit  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, crowded  his  way  over  the  mountains  to  the  waters  of  the 
Youghiogheny,  where  were  a  few  Methodists  among  the  sparse 
population,  and  many  other  persons  who  needed  conversion. 
The  names  of  Cooper,  Breeze,  Moriarty,  and  Wilson  Lee  are 
intimately  connected  with  this  country  and  the  planting  of  the 
Church.  In  1785  there  were  reported  523  members.  Then 
came  William  Phoebus,  John  Wilson,  and  E.  Phelps.  Red- 
stone grew  in  importance  in  Western  Methodism,  so  that  in 
1787  there  were  756  members. 

From  the  Holston  center  Methodism  extended  with  the  rest- 
less population  to  the  West  and  South-west.  The  names  of  the 
worthy  men  who  went  into  these  wTilds  to  preach  to  the  hardy 
and  bold  pioneers  have  been  lost,  or  can  only  be  conjectured. 
They  were  brave  and  godly  men,  and  their  "  works  do  follow 
them."  The  names  of  the  preachers  who  formed  the  first  Con- 
ference held  by  Asbury  at  Half  Acres  in  Tennessee,  in  May, 
1788,  are  preserved,  and  all  the  men  were  heroes.  They  were 
Edward  Morris,  elder,  Jeremiah  Mastin,  Joseph  Doddridge, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  39 


Daniel  Asbury,  Thomas  Ware,  and  Jesse  Richardson.  The 
company  was  small,  but  the  men  were  great. 

Daniel  Boone  was  in  advance  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Kentucky  about  ten  years.  As  early  as  Methodism  iu 
1784  local  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Kentucky. 
Church  followed  the  settlers  to  this  beautiful  country  and 
preached  Christ.  Tucker,  a  local  preacher,  in  1784,  descended 
the  Ohio  River  "  in  a  boat  with  a  number  of  his  kindred,  men, 
women,  and  children."  They  were  fired  upon  by  the  Indians, 
and  Tucker  was  mortally  wounded.  Falling  upon  his  knees, 
he  "  prayed  and  fought  till,  by  his  self  possession  and  courage, 
the  boat  was  rescued.  He  then  immediately  expired,  i  shout- 
ing the  praises  of  the  Lord.'  " 

Methodism  was  ever  spiritually  restless.  As  soon  as  the 
standard  of  the  cross  was  planted  in  one  locality,  the  Methodisra  in 
eyes  of  the  ministry  were  lifted  to  a  destitute  field  Nova  scotia. 
beyond.  It  is  recorded  that  the  first  Methodist  preaching  in 
Nova  Scotia  was  in  1766,  by  Laurence  Coughlan.  After  a 
short  time,  and  without  much  fruit,  his  health  failed,  and  he 
returned  to  England,  where  he  died  of  paralysis.  John 
McGeary  was  sent  out  to  take  his  place,  but  after  a  time  aban- 
doned the  field.  William  Black  had  better  success,  and  became 
the  real  founder  of  Methodism  in  the  province. 

William  Black  was  at  the  Christmas  Conference  pressing  the 
needs  of  Nova  Scotia.  The  great  heart  of  Coke  was  enlisted. 
Freeborn  Garrettson  and  J.  O.  Cromwell  were  set  apart  for  that 
special  work.  These  two  apostles  sailed  for  Halifax  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1785.  At  once  Garrettson  commenced  to  preach  in  a 
house  hired  by  a  "Mr.  Marchington,  a  true  friend  to  the  Gos- 
pel." Souls  were  awakened  and  converted,  and  in  a  few  days 
Garrettson  formed  the  first  Methodist  society  with  about  eight 
members. 

His  comrade,  Cromwell,  pushed  on  to  Shelburn,  where  like 
results  attended  his  ministry.  John  Mann,  a  convert  of  Board- 
man  in  New  York,  and  for  a  time  during  the  Revolutionary 
War  pastor  of  John  Street  Church,  went  to  Nova  Scotia  and  be- 
came a  faithful  preacher,  where  he  died  triumphantly  in  1816. 


40 


MANUAL  OF 


Barbara  Heck,  the  foundress  of  Methodism  in  New  York, 
Barbara  Heck  *n  1784,  went  with  her  children  and  the  widow  and 
in  Canada.  children  of  Embury  to  Canada,  where  she  died  Au- 
gust IT,  1804.*  The  names  and  works  of  this  noble  woman 
and  the  accompanying  families  are  to  be  found  "from  Augusta 
to  Quebec.1'  Samuel  Embury,  son  of  Philip,  was  class-leader, 
and  Barbara  Heck  and  her  three  sons  were  members  of  the 
class.  A  local  preacher  named  Tuppey,  of  the  British  army  at 
Quebec,  preached  for  about  three  years.  The  Canadians  regard 
him  "  as  the  first  Methodist  preacher  in  Canada."  An  Irish 
local  preacher  named  George  Neal,  a  major  of  cavalry  in  the 
English  army,  was  the  second  preacher.  The  doctrines  and 
spirit  of  Methodism  penetrated  the  English  army,  and  raised 
up  some  noble,  godly  preachers,  who  aided  greatly  in  the  plant- 
ing and  extension  of  Methodism  in  the  New  World.  The 
names  of  Captain  Webb,  Commissary  Tuppey,  and  Major  Neal 
may  well  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  Methodists. 

In  1788  James  McCarty,  an  Irish  preacher  from  the  United 
States,  entered  Canada  to  preach,  and  great  success  attended  his 
labors.  The  Churchmen  (mostly  Romanists)  having  seized  and 
bound  him,  placed  him  in  a  boat  with  four  hired  Frenchmen  ; 
these  took  him  down  the  St.  Lawrence  to  the  Rapids,  where 
they  left  him  on  a  desolate  island.  Whether  he  perished  by 
starvation  or  was  drowned  in  an  attempt  to  reach  the  main-land 
is  not  known. 

In  January,  1790,  William  Losee,  preacher  on  Lake  Cham- 
plain  Circuit,  crossed  the  St.  Lawrence,  probably  at  St.  Regis, 
and  began  to  preach  with  marked  success  in  Canada. 

At  New  York,  April  30,  1789,  George  Washington  was 
Washington  inaugurated  President.  In  May  the  New  York 
addressed  in   Conference  held  its  session  in  that  city.  Asbury, 

the  name  of      .  .  .    ~.    .  .     ,  . 

the  Method-  the  patriot  and  Christian,  suggested  trie  propriety 
pai  church  °^  presenting  to  President  Washington  "  a  con- 
by  the  wsh-  gratulatory  address,"  in  which  "  should  be  embodied 
our  approbation  of  the  Constitution,  and  professing 
our  allegiance  to  the  government."     The  Conference  highly 

*  Letter  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Withrow,  D.D.,  in  The  Epworth  Herald,  March  7,  1891. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  41 


approved  the  measure,  and  the  two  bishops  were  appointed  to 
draw  up  and  present  such  a  paper  to  the  President.  The  paper 
was  a  sincere  congratulation  to  Washington  on  his  election, 
and  a  cordial  recognition  of  his  eminent  qualifications  for  the 
high  office.  It  bears  the  date,  "  May  29,  1789,"  and  is  signed 
by  Coke  and  Asbury  in  behalf  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

President  Washington  made  a  suitable  reply. 


« 


42 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  VII. 

PRESIDING  ELDERSHIP — THE  COUNCIL — QUESTIONS  SETTLED. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Christmas  Conference  the 
Origin  of  pre-  appointments  were  so  arranged  that  the  elders  were 
siding  eiders,  distributed  to  points  accessible,  from  which  they 
could  reach  the  whole  Church  and  "  administer  the  sacraments 
of  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper,  and  perform  all  the  other 
rites  prescribed  by  our  Liturgy."  This  was  found  very  help- 
ful to  the  spiritual  life  of  the  people.  When  the  next  Confer- 
ences were  held,  in  1786,  these  elders  were  limited  to  certain 
territory  for  each.  It  was  then  said  the  elder  was  "  to  exercise 
within  his  district,  during  the  absence  of  superintendents,  all 
the  powers  vested  in  them  for  the  government  of  our  Church, 
provided  that  he  never  act  contrary  to  an  express  order  of  the 
superintendents."  When  the  Conferences  of  1787  came  it  was 
found  that  these  elders  were  eminently  useful  in  the  manage- 
ment and  government  of  the  Church,  and  out  of  this  came  the 
office  of  presiding  elder.  The  title  appears  for  the  first  time 
in  the  Discipline  of  1792. 

The  Christmas  Conference  made  no  arrangement  for  the 
assembling  of  another  body  like  unto  itself  for  the 
purpose  of  legislation.  Measures  for  church  govern- 
ment were  adopted,  which,  after  being  presented  to  the  several 
Annual  Conferences,  provided  a  majority  of  the  preachers 
in  their  sessions  voted  for  the  proposed  rules,  became  laws 
and  regulations.  Before  four  years  had  passed  it  became  evi- 
dent that  in  some  body  must  be  lodged  legislative  power, 
instead  of  the  present  cumbersome  and  uncertain  mode.  A 
proposition  was  submitted  by  Bishop  Asbury  to  the  Conferences 
beginning  in  the  spring  of  1789  to  form  a  "Council,"  whose 
powers  were  to  mature  every  thing  they  shall  judge  expe- 
dient.   "1.  To  preserve  the  general  union.    2.  To  render  and 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  43 


preserve  the  external  form  of  worship  similar  in  all  our  societies 
through  the  continent.  3.  To  preserve  the  essentials  of  the 
Methodist  doctrines  and  discipline  pure  and  uncorrupted.  4.  To 
correct  all  abuses  and  disorders.  5.  To  mature  everv  thing 
the j  may  see  necessary  for  the  good  of  the  Church  and  for  the 
promoting  and  improving  our  colleges  and  plan  of  education."* 
It  was  provided  that  the  acts  of  the  Council,  to  be  authoritative, 
should  be  unanimously  adopted  by  the  Council  and  agreed  to 
by  a  majority  of  the  Conference  in  which  the  act  was  to  be 
appliedo  The  Bishops  were  authorized  to  summon  the  Council 
at  such  time  and  place  as  they  should  "  judge  expedient." 

The  first  Council  met  at  Cokesbury  College,  December  4, 
1789.  Bishop  Asbury  presided.  There  were  pres- 
ent Richard  Ivey,  of  Georgia ;  P.  Ellis,  of  South 
Carolina ;  E.  Morris,  of  North  Carolina ;  Philip  Bruce,  of 
north  district  of  Virginia;  James  O'Kelly,  of  south  district  of 
Virginia ;  L.  Green,  of  Ohio ;  Nelson  Reed,  of  western  Mary- 
land ;  J.  Everett,  of  eastern  Maryland ;  John  Dickins,  of  Penn- 
sylvania; J.  O.  Cromwell,  of  New  Jersey,  and  Freeborn  Gar- 
rettson,  of  New  York.  These  eleven  men,  with  the  bishop, 
formed  the  first  Council  of  Methodism  in  America.  Bishop 
Asbury  says :  "  All  our  business  was  done  in  love  and  una- 
nimity." Of  this  there  can  be  no  doubt.  Nevertheless, 
there  were  in  the  plan  elements  that  necessarily  conspired  to 
break  it  down ;  only  one  other  session  was  held  —  that  of 
1790. 

The  causes  for  this  unpopularity  were,  first,  "Nothing  was  to 
be  decided  without  a  reference  to  the  Conferences,  Council  un_ 
who  had  a  full  veto  power;"  second,  the  council  popular, 
was  composed  of  presiding  elders,  who,  as  Lee  wrote,  "  were 
appointed,  changed,  and  put  out  of  office  by  the  bishop,  and 
just  when  he  pleased."  According  to  American  democratic 
ideas  this  was  not  representation  ;  and  while  there  was  no  pos- 
sible connection  between  Church  and  State,  still  the  political 
notions  of  American  patriots  rejected  "taxation  without  repre- 
sentation." 

*  JBanga's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  i,  pp.  302-304. 


44 


MANUAL  OF 


An  attempt  was  made  to  remedy  these  defects  by  substituting 
Attempt  at  ^or  presiding  elders  as  members  of  the  Council 
remedy.  «  experienced  elders,"  elected  by  ballot.  It  was  also 
determined  that  the  Council  "  should  have  power  to  direct  and 
manage  the  printing,  to  conduct  the  plan  of  education,  to 
appoint  teachers  and  fix  their  salary,  and  to  preserve  the  gen- 
eral union  of  the  preachers  and  people." 

Among  those  present  at  the  first  council  was  James  O' Kelly, 
from  the  south  district  of  Virginia,  a  strong,  restless, 

O'Kelly. 

influential,  determined  man.  He  had  heartily  favored 
the  organization  of  the  Council,  and  was  present  and  took  an 
active  part  in  the  proceedings.  But  he  became  wholly  opposed 
to  the  existence  of  the  body,  and  as  openly  hostile  to  it 
as  he  had  been  formerly  favorable.  Jesse  Lee  attributes  this 
sudden  and  radical  change  to  the  fact  that  O'Kelly  "  went  to 
the  first  Council  with  some  expectation  of  being  promoted  in 
the  Church,  but,  finding  himself  disappointed,  he  returned 
home  greatly  mortified."  In  his  Annual  Conference  O'Kelly 
threw  his  influence  against  all  the  measures  proposed  by  the 
Council.  As  a  result  not  one  of  these  measures  was  adopted. 
He  also  allied  himself  with  some  others  in  strongly  advo- 
cating a  call  for  a  General  Conference.  While  he  was  doubt- 
less unwise  in  his  methods  he  did  well  in  urging  the  assembly 
of  a  body  whose  personnel  would  justly  represent  the  entire 
Church,  and  which  should  legislate  with  full  authority  for 
the  Church. 

Bishop  Asbury,  coming  to  the  conclusion  that  a  General 
Conference  offered  the  only  solution  of  the  embar- 

Call  for  a  Gen-  » 

erai  confer-   rassments  of  the  Church,  submitted  a  plan  which 
was  approved  by  the  preachers.    The  call  was  made 
for  the  assembling  of  the  preachers  in  such  a  General  Confer- 
ence ^November  1,  1792,  at  Baltimore. 

Mr.  Wesley,  very  early  in  the  religious  movement  which  he 
directed,  discovered  the  great  value  of  the  press  in 
carrving  forward  an  intelligent  revival.   The  Church 
in  America  was  also  in  no  wise  slow  to  recognize  its  importance. 
In  17S9,  official  provision  was  made  "  for  the  publication  of  books 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  45 


for  the  Church."  The  right  man  for  publisher  was  found  in  the 
person  of  John  Dickins,  who,  in  addition  to  his  work  as  preacher 
in  Philadelphia,  was  appointed  "book  steward."  Philip  Cox 
was  not  appointed  to  a  circuit,  but  was  made  "  book  steward  at 
Large."  The  honor  of  planning  the  work  of  the  Book  Concern, 
obtaining  means  to  carry  it  forward,  and  stamping  upon  it  the 
character  of  permanency,  justly  belongs  to  John  Dickins. 

As  early  as  1786  Bishop  Asbury  formed  a  Sunday-school 
"at  the  house  of  Thomas  Crenshaw,  in' Hanover  _ 

'  First  Sunday- 

County,  Va.,"  the  first  ever  formed  on  the  Ameri-   school  in 

can  continent  by  any  Church.  This  was  only  five  Amenca- 
years  after  Robert  Raikes  organized  the  Sunday-school  in 
Gloucester,  England,  at  the  instigation  of  a  "young  Methodist 
woman,"  afterward  the  wife  of  Rev.  Samuel  Bradburn.  The 
Conferences  of  1790  distinguished  themselves  by  ordering  that 
"Sunday-schools,  for  the  instruction  of  'poor  children,  white 
and  black,' "  be  established.  The  minutes  read,  "  Let  us  labor, 
as  the  heart  and  soul  of  one  man,  to  establish  Sunday-schools 
in  or  near  the  place  of  public  worship.  Let  persons  be 
appointed  by  the  bishops,  elders,  deacons,  or  preachers  to  teach 
[gratis]  all  that  will  attend  and  have  a  capacity  to  learn,  from 
six  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  ten,  and  from  two  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  till  six,  where  it  does  not  interfere  with  public  wor- 
ship. The  Council  shall  compile  a  proper  school-book  to  teach 
them  learning  and  piety."  *  The  Sunday-schools  commenced 
thus  early  in  the  history  of  American  Methodism  were  destined 
to  become  an  ever-increasing  agency  of  usefulness. 

The  most  difficult  field  for  Methodism  to  enter  was  New  En- 
gland. The  "  Standing:  Order" — the  Congregational 

JL        .      .  °,    .     .  /5        t       t  Methodism 

Church — had  been  recognized  as  a  State  Church.  Jt  entering  New 
tolerated  the  Presbyterians,  wrho  to  some  extent  EngIand- 
catered  to  the  Congregationalists.  These  in  common  held  to  the 
Calvinistic  faith,  the  Presbyterians  the  more  tenaciously.  The 
early  settlers  of  New  England  had  fled  from  the  Old  World  on 
account  of  religious  and  political  intolerance,  and  in  turn,  after 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  i  i.  pp.  503.  504,  quoted 
from  Lee's  History,  p.  162. 


40 


MANUAL  OF 


enjoying  religions  and  political  freedom  in  the  Xew  World, 
Lad  themselves  become  intensely  intolerant.  Methodism  taught 
a  pure  Arminian  doctrine,  which,  if  admitted,  must  entirely 
change  the  teachings  of  the  established  churches.  The  staid 
Xew  Englanders  could  not  brook  change.  They  believed  them- 
selves doing  God  service  in  antagonizing  this  new  preaching. 
It  was  under  such  circumstances  that  our  early  preachers  found 
their  way  into  Xew  England,  and  there  planted  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Jesse  Lee  is  the  hero  of  Xew  England  Methodism.    A  few 
sermons  from  Methodist  preachers  passing  to  and 

Lee  the  hero.  . 

from  Nova  ocotia  had  been  preached,  but  no  lasting 
effect  had.  been  produced.  Jesse  Lee  arrived  in  Connecticut 
June  IT,  1789,  preached  at  X  or  walk  that  day,  and  afterward 
at  Xew  Haven  and  elsewhere.  His  first  class  was  formed  at 
Stratfield,  about  September  26,  1789.  The  second  class  was 
formed  at  Redding  the  last  of  December,  1789,  and  had  two 
members.  After  about  three  months  Lee  went  into  Rhode 
Island,  where  his  heart  was  cheered  by  finding  "  a  great  many 
Baptists  in  this  part  of  the  country"  who  were  "lively  in  re- 
ligion." "  They  are,"  says  Lee,  "  mostly  different  from  those 
I  have  formerly  been  acquainted  with  ;  for  these  will  let  men 
of  all  persuasions  commune  with  them  if  they  believe  they  are 
in  favor  with  the  Lord.  I  think  the  way  is  now  open  for  our 
preachers  to  visit  this  part  of  the  land.  It  is  the  wish  of  many 
that  I  should  stay,  and  they  begged  that  I  would  return  again 
as  soon  as  possible,  although  they  never  saw  a  Methodist  before. 
I  am  the  first  preacher  of  our  way  that  has  ever  visited  this 
part  of  the  country."  * 

Lee  continued  to  preach  in  Connecticut  in  school-houses,  in 
court-houses,  occasionally  "  in  the  more  liberal  vil- 
Leeswn.  churches,"  in  private  houses,  in  groves,  and  by 

the  highway.  His  preaching  was  clear,  strong,  and  persuasive. 
The  people  heard  him  gladly,  but  "  the  pastors  and  deacons 
valiantly  resisted  him  as  a  heretic,  for  he  was  an  Arminian.'1 
AVhen  these  men  attempted  to  turn  his  preaching  into  ridicule, 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  429. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  47 


by  tact  and  logic  "he  confounded  them."  When  the  wags 
and  wits  attempted  to  bring  him  into  derision  Lee  was  always 
ready  with  an  apt  repartee  that  scattered  them  and  left  him 
the  victor.  It  was  sometimes  said  he  was  not  educated,  and 
the  wise  ones  quoted  Latin  and  Greek  to  test  him.  Lee  an- 
swered back  in  Dutch,  which  they  thought  to  be  Hebrew, 
and  were  forced  to  admit  his  "  culture."  Lee  preached 
powerfully  and  exhorted  with  irresistible  force.  When  he 
prayed  the  heavens  and  earth  seemed  to  meet ;  and  when  he 
sang  Zion's  songs  the  multitude  was  charmed  and  heard  him 
gladly. 

But  Lee  had  not  yet  attacked  sin  in  Boston,  which  even  then 
was  New  England's  head.  He  reached  Boston  July  9,  Lee  in  Bos_ 
1790.  The  day  was  spent  in  the  vain  effort  to  find  ton- 
a  place  in  which  to  preach.  The  next  clay,  in  the  afternoon,  he 
took  a  table  to  the  Commons,  where  people  were  frequently 
passing.  Lee  at  this  time  was  about  thirty-two  years  of  age. 
His  dress  wras  simple  in  style,  resembling  that  of  the  Quakers. 
His  face  was  attractive,  eye  clear,  and  voice  resonant.  He 
placed  his  table  under  a  tree,  mounted  it,  and  began  to  sing  a 
hymn.  Only  four  persons  drew  near  at  first  to  see  the  novelty. 
The  preacher  kneeled  and  poured  out  his  soul  in  prayer.  His 
manner  was  that  of  one  deeply  in  earnest.  By  the  time  the 
prayer  Was  concluded  masses  of  people  were  coming  from 
every  direction  toward  this  table  and  its  occupant.  It  was 
estimated  that  three  thousand  people  were  thus  quickly  assem- 
bled. Lee  opened  his  pocket  Bible,  announced  his  text,  and 
preached  without  notes.  It  was  a  plain,  pointed  sermon.  Many 
hungry  souls  heard  it  gladly,  and  received  the  message  as  corn- 
ins:  from  above. 

The  story  of  Lee's  efforts  to  find  a  place  in  which  to  gather  a 
congregation  and  preach  to  them  the  Gospel,  the  oft-repeated 
repulses  and  denials,  the  persistent  effort  to  obstruct  his  way, 
and  his  ultimate  success,  together  with  his  providential  call  to 
Lynn,  and  the  open  door  there,  make  a  brilliant  passage  in  the 
romance  of  Methodist  history.  The  great  heart  of  Lee  for- 
gave men  their  rudeness.    His  love  for  dying  sinners  led  him 


48 


MANUAL  OF 


to  work  prodigies.  His  indomitable  energy  enabled  him  to 
persist  until  lie  conquered. 

As  Lee  passed  through  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  his 
Lee  and  Na-  preaching  received  frequent  and  severe  criticism, 
than  Bangs.  Sometimes  an  unconscious  influence  was  exerted  that 
required  years  to  determine  itself.  In  Connecticut  was  "  an 
honest  and  intelligent  blacksmith  "  who  stood  by  the  "  Standing 
Order"  and  Calvinism.  He  would  not  suffer  his  family  to  hear 
Lee  preach,  but  he  could  not  prevent  the  discussions  in  the 
family  about  the  wonderful  man  and  bis  preaching.  One  of 
his  sons,  only  twelve  years  of  age,  was  greatly  impressed  with 
what  he  heard  in  the  family  and  shop.  Though  not  permitted 
to  hear  Lee  then,  when  he  became  a  man  and  acted  for  himself 
he  sought  out  the  Methodist  preachers,  heard  them  gladly,  was 
soundly  converted,  and  became  the  great  Dr.  Nathan  Bangs. 
It  is  said  by  Dr.  Stevens  that  he  did  more  important  service 
for  American  Methodism  than  any  other  man  recorded  in  its 
history  except  Asbury.* 

At  the  Conference  in  New  York,  October  4,  1790,  Lee 
Lee  re-en-  pleaded  eloquently  for  laborers  for  New  England, 
forced.  jje  ]ia(]  a]rear]j  formed  Stamford  or  Redding  and 
the  New  Haven  circuits.  He  could  show  a  chapel  at  Stratfield, 
Conn.,  known  as  Lee's  Chapel,  the  first  Methodist  church  built 
in  New  England  ;  a  chapel,  partly  finished,  in  Dantown  ;  and  a 
good  prospect  for  work  in  Lynn.  He  could  also  point  to  bit- 
ter opposition,  a  cold  reception,  and  antagonisms  from  sturdy 
New  Englanders.  He  received  ministerial  re-enforcement  in 
John  Bloodgood,  John  Lee,  N.  B.  Mills,  and  Daniel  Smith. 

Lee  received  word  of  the  death  of  his  mother  while  at  Con- 
Death  of  Lee's  ference  in  New  York.  His  great  heart  of  affection 
mother.  was  1110Ved  to  go  and  mourn  with  his  loved  ones, 
but  perishing  sinners  in  New  England  called  loudly  to  him  for 
salvation.  He  therefore  decided  to  send  his  brother  home 
while  he,  with  his  assistants,  hastened  to  New  England.  From 
this  time  there  was  no  lack  of  strong  Methodist  preaching, 
earnest  evangelical  exhortations,  and  stirring  gospel  singing. 
*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  435. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


49 


Revivals  occurred,  societies  were  formed,  circuits  arranged, 
preachers  found  for  the  growing  work,  and  church  buildings 
erected.  The  next  year  twelve  preachers  were  sent  from  the 
Conference  in  New  York  to  New  England. 

Bishop  Asbury  visited  New  England  for  the  first  time  in 
1791.  Entering  Connecticut  June  4,  his  reception  Asbliry  ln 
by  the  Methodists  was  most  hearty  at  Redding,  New  England. 
Stratford,  and  elsewhere.  By  others  his  reception  was  cold  and 
inhospitable,  especially  at  Boston.  He  left  Boston  saying, 
"  The  Methodists  have  no  house,  but  their  time  may  come." 
At  Lynn  he  found  a  "  Methodist  chapel  raised."  Asbury 
was  greatly  cheered,  and  in  a  prophetic  spirit  he  predicted  that 
"  God  would  work  in  these  States,  and  give  us  a  great  harvest." 

The  work  of  Lee  and  his  coadjutors  was  so  crowned  with 
success  that  in  May,  1792,  Bishop  Asbury  returned  to  Lynn 
and  held  the  first  Conference  in  New  England.  There  were 
present  eight  preachers  besides  the  bishop. 

In  1784  there  were  eighty-three,  ministers :  in  1792  there  were 
two  hundred  and  sixty-six  of  them.    In  1784  there 

t      ^An  Growthofthe 

were  14,988  members.  In  1792  there  were  about  church  to 
65,980  members.    In  eislit  years  the  Church  had   cl0seH°f  tbis 

'  o       J  period. 

more  than  three  times  multiplied  her  ministry  and 
more  than  four  times  increased  her  membership.    In  church 
buildings  there  had,  doubtless,  been  a  corresponding  increase, 
though  the  facts  are  nowhere  given  upon  which  to  base  a  calcu- 
lation as  to  how  many  churches  Methodism  then  possessed. 
5 


♦ 


50 


MANUAL  OF 


v 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1792  TO  THE  FIRST  DELEGATED 
GENERAL  CONFERENCE,  1812. 

The  Annual  Conferences,  excepting  the  South  Virginia, 
second  Gen  where  O'Kelly  exerted  his  greatest  influence,  having 
emi  confer-  acceded  to  the  request  of  the  second  Council,  Bishop 
Asbnry  called  a  General  Conference  to  assemble 
in  Baltimore,  November  1,  1792,  to  be  composed  of  all  the 
elders  of  the  Church.  It  is  not  definitely  known  whether 
Bishop  Coke's  name  was  appended  to  the  call,  as  he  was  absent 
in  England  at  the  time  it  was  officially  mode.  Having  heard 
of  Wesley's  death,  April  29,  1791,  lie  had  hastened  to  England 
to  settle  matters  connected  with  the  Wesleyan  Conference. 
The  fact  that  he  was  the  first  designated  in  the  "  Poll  Deed," 
or  u  Deed  of  Declaration,"  led  to  the  expectation  that  he  would 
take  a  leading  part  in  the  adjustment  of  the  unsettled  affairs  of 
Wesleyan  Methodism. 

There  was  one  restless,  disloyal  spirit  sowing  the  seeds  of 
o'Keiiy'sdis-  discord  among  the  preachers  in  America  and  seek- 
loyaity.  jng  ^0  ^rea^  clown  the  influence  of  Bishops  Asbury 

and  Coke  and  to  wholly  change  the  genius  of  Methodism,  if  not 
destroy  it  altogether.  This  was  James  O'Kelly.  We  have  seen 
his  disappointment  in  the  Council  of  1789.  In  the  absence  of 
Bishop  Coke,  O'Kelly  and  his  supporter,  Mr.  Allen,  by  letters 
to  Coke  in  England,  had  violently  and  unrighteously  assailed 
the  character  of  Bishop  Asbury.  O'Kelly  had  spent  two  years 
in  "  alienating  the  affections  of  the  young  preachers  from 
Bishop  Asbury  by  representing  him  as  a  tyrant  and  as  being 
ambitious  and  mercenary."  O'Kelly  was  a  man  wTell  calculated 
to  lead  men  away  and  demoralize  the  chu>*ches.  Among  others 
who  were  misled  by  him  was  William  McKendree,  a  man  who 
afterward  became  famous  both  as  preacher  and  bishop.  Not 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


51 


until  lie  met  Bishop  Asbury  personally,  and  studied  his  char- 
acter critically,  did  he  come  to  appreciate  the  nobility  of  the 
man  he  had  been  taught  to  undervalue. 

Bishop  Asbury  found  that  by  these  letters  of  O'Kclly  and 
Allen  Bishop  Coke  had  been  turned  somewhat  against 

i  .  i  •  i  r    t  at  Error  of  Coke. 

him,  which  was  one  ot  the  severest  afflictions  expe- 
rienced by  Asbury  in  this  controversy.  As  early  as  April,  1791, 
Bishop  Coke,  fearing  that  Methodism  could  not  stand  firm 
amid  the  contending  elements  of  a  new  country,  wrote  a  letter 
to  Bishop  White,  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  suggest- 
ing the  possibility  of  a  union  of  the  two  Churches.  This 
becoming  known  some  years  afterward,  he  was  severely  and 
justly  censured  by  Bishop  Asbury  and  the  Methodists  generally. 
A  people  wdio  had  fought  their  way  through  untold  difficulties 
and  opposition  until  they  were  much  larger  than  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  were  in  no  mood  to  quietly  sit  by  and  see 
such  a  union  consummated.  Bishop  Coke  afterward  saw  his 
error  and  acknowledged  it. 

The  second  General  Conference  assembled  in  Baltimore  on 
the  morning  of  November  1,  1792.  Bishop  Coke  Lee,g  accoimt 
arrived  from  England  the  night  before.  No  official  of  theconfer- 
record  has  been  found  of  the  doings  of  this  Confer- 
ence ;  but  Jesse  Lee  has  preserved  a  fair  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings, and,  having  been  present  and  a  member  of  the  body,  his 
statements  are  taken  as  authority.  The  General  Conference 
was  composed  of  the  elders  of  the  Church.  How  many  were 
present  he  does  not  state,  but  they  were  "  from  all  jJarts  of  the 
United  States  where  we  had  any  circuits  formed."  . 

The  first  day  was  spent  in  determining  the  rules  to  govern 
the  Conference  in  its  deliberations.  The  principal  restrictive 
rule  adopted  required  a  two-thirds  vote  of  all  the  members 
voting  to  "abolish  an  old  law  or  make  a  new  one,  but  that  a 
majority  might  alter  or  amend  any  existing  law." 

On  the  second  day  O'Kelly  precipitated  the  action  which  led 
to  his  secession  from  the  Church.    The  O'Kelly   o'Keiiy's  Ave 
party  had  a  platform  with  five  planks  :  "  1.  The  Planks- 
abolition  of  the  arbitrary  aristocracy  (the  Council).    2.  The 


52 


MANUAL  OF 


investing  of  the  nomination  of  the  presiding  elders  in  the  Con- 
ferences of  the  districts.  3.  The  limitation  of  the  districts  to 
be  invested  in  the  General  Conference.  4.  An  appeal  allowed 
each  preacher  on  the  reading  of  the  stations.  5.  A  General 
Conference  of  at  least  two  thirds  of  the  preachers  as  a  check  on 
every  thing."  * 

On  this  day  O'Kelly  embodied  what  was  probably  his  strong- 
Dangerous  est  point  in  the  following  amendment  to  the  Dis- 
demand.  cipline  :  "  After  the  bishop  appoints  the  preachers 
at  Conference  to  their  several  circuits,  if  any  one  thinks  him- 
self injured  by  the  appointment  he  shall  have  liberty  to  appeal 
to  the  Conference  and  state  his  objections;  and  if  the  Con- 
ference approve  his  objections  the  bishop  shall  appoint  him 
to  another  circuit."  This  question  immediately  brought  on 
an  animated  and  strong  discussion.  Asbury,  being  sick,  and 
greatly  depressed  by  the  possible  results  of  this  discussion,  re- 
tired, leaving  Bishop  Coke  in  the  chair.  "  It  was  the  first  of 
those  great  parliamentary  debates  which  have  given  pre-emi- 
nence to  the  deliberative  talent "  of  the  General  Conference  in 
its  entire  history.  O'Kelly  led  in  the  discussion.  He  was  sharp 
and  censorious.  Ivey,  Hull,  Garrettson,  and  Swift  took  sides 
witli  him  in  the  discussion,  though  not  in  his  extreme  measures. 
But  equally  strong  and  eloquent  men  opposed  these.  Willis, 
Lee,  Morrell,  Everett,  and  Eeed  especially  defended  Method- 
ism as  it  was,  and  clearly  showed  the  destructive  effects  of 
the  proposed  movement.  Coke  was  greatly  impressed  with 
the  brilliancy  and  power  of  the  debate.  He  had  heard  noth- 
ing in  the  Old  World  to  surpass  it.  The  debate  commenced 
on  Friday,  the  2d,  and  continued  to  Monday  night,  the  5th, 
being  relieved  by  solemn  religious  services  on  Sunday,  at 
which  Bishop  Coke,  O'Kelly,  and  Henry  Willis  preached. 
Lee  writes  :  "  On  Monday  we  began  the  debate  afresh,  and 
continued  it  through  the  day ;  and  at  night  we  went  to 
Otterbein's  church  and  again  continued  till  near  bed-time, 
when  the  vote  was  taken  and  the  motion  was  lost  by  a  large 
majority." 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Tears  of  Methodism,  p.  72. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


53 


On  Tuesday  morning  O'Kelly  and  a  few  kindred  spirits  sent 
to  the  General  Conference  a  letter  declaring  their  0'Kelly»s  se_ 
withdrawal  from  the  body  "  because  the  appeal  was  cession, 
not  allowed."  An  effort  was  made  to  reconcile  these  malcon- 
tents. Garrettson,  who  was  one  of  the  committee,  speaks  of 
the  effort  as  a  failure.  "  Many  tears  were  shed,"  says  he,  "  but 
we  were  not  able  to  reconcile  him  [O'Kelly]  to  the  decision  of 
the  Conference.  «His  wound  was  deep  and  apparently  incur- 
able." 

O'Kelly  soon  left  Baltimore  for  southern  Virginia,  and  be- 
gan to  uproot  what  he  had  planted.  A  few  preachers  followed 
him.  William  McKendree  went,  but  did  not  stay  long,  becom- 
ing convinced  of  his  error.  O'Kelly  called  his  asso-  McKendree 
ciation  the  "  Republican  Methodists."  Divisions,  followed, 
strifes,  and  discords  arose  in  the  body.  Peace  was  a  stranger. 
O'Kelly  ordained  preachers  and  exercised  the  very  functions 
he  had  so  bitterly  antagonized  in  Asbury.  In  1801  lie  pub- 
lished a  pamphlet  calling  his  organization  the  "Christian 
Church."  His  party  dwindled,  and  after  his  death,  October 
16,  1826,  went  to  pieces.  v 

After  O'Kelly  had  withdrawn  he  secured  an  interview  with 
Bishop  Coke,  but  used  his  privilege  to  "  criminate  "  him  and 
the  Conference. 

Lee,  in  describing  the  withdrawal  of  O'Kelly  and  the  preach- 
ers who  followed  him,  writes  that  the  motive  of  his  action  was 
not  brought  out  in  the  debate.  He  was  heterodox  regarding 
the  Trinity.  "  O'Kelly  denied  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  and 
preachecL  against  it,  by  saying  that  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy 
Ghost  were  characters,  and  not  persons,  and  that  these  char- 
acters all  belonged  to  Jesus  Christ ;  that  Jesus  Christ  was  the 
Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost."  A  member  of  the 
General  Conference  had  intended  to  prosecute  him  before  the 
Conference  for  "  the  false  doctrines  which  he  had  been  preach- 
ing;" but  O'Kelly's  withdrawal  from  the  Conference  and 
Church  prevented  the  necessity  for  such  a  trial.* 

It  ma}7  be  well  to  remember  that  about  this  time  began  those 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Ejnscopal  Church,  vol.  iii,  p.  26. 


54: 


MANUAL  OF 


warm  debates  on  the  constitutional  rights  of  the  itinerant 
preacher  in  the  Wesleyan  Connection  in  England  which  grew 
out  of  the  changed  relations  arising  from  the  death  of  Mr. 
Wesley. 

The  day  following  the  secession  of  O' Kelly  the  General 
Conference  settled  down  to  a  state  of  tranquillity. 
Asbury  was  asked  to  preach,  which  he  did  from 
1  Pet.  iii,  8.  "  Finally,  be  ye  all  of  one  mind,  having  compas- 
sion one  of  another  ;  love  as  brethren,  be  pitiful,  be  courteous." 
This  godly  man,  who  had  during  all  this  strife  illustrated  this 
text  in  his  conduct,  could,  with  unusual  power,  preach  it  in 
words  from  the  pulpit. 

Among  the  acts  of  the  General  Conference  of  1792  are  a  revis- 
ion of  the  Discipline  ;  a  providing  for  regular  General 

Acts  of  Gen-  .  . 

erai  confer-  Conferences  ;  designation  of  the  Annual  Conferences 
enceof  l.fc.  ^  ^  name  u  District  Conferences,"  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  General  Conference;  the  authorization  of  the 
bishops  under  certain  restrictions  to  set  the  boundaries  to  the 
Conferences,  and  to  fix  the  times  of  the  annual  sessions;  the 
definition  of  the  term  "  supernumerary  preacher  the  provision 
for  "the  election,  ordination,  and  trial  of  bishops;"  the  defini- 
tion of  the  presiding  eldership,  with  its  powers  and  duties;  the 
limiting  the  appointment  of  the  elders  in  one  district  to  four 
years ;  the  ordering  that  preachers  should  not  receive  presents 
for  baptisms  or  burial  of  the  dead;  a  rule  for  settling  disputes 
between  brethren  "concerning  the  payment  of  debts"  without 
going  to  law ;  the  prescribing  of  a  form  of  church  letter ;  a 
provision  for  the  trial  of  preachers  for  "  immorality  or  improper 
conduct,  and  also  for  heresy,"  and  an  addition  to  the  rule  of  an 
earlier  date  regarding  the  trial  of  members  who  should  inveigh 
against  the  "doctrine  and  discipline"  of  the  Church,  or  sow 
dissension  in  any  of  the  societies. 

On  November  15,  the  business  being  accomplished,  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  adjourned,  with  a  sermon  bv  Bishop 

Adjourned  '  ,  1 

with  asermon   Coke.    The  preachers  went  out  with  a  deeper  con- 
sciousness of  the  value  of  Methodism  than  they  had 
before.    The  impression  of  the  Conference  upon  Coke  was 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


55 


profound.  "I  had  always  entertained,"  says  he,  "  very  high 
ideas  of  the  piety  and  zeal  of  the  American  preachers,  and  of 
the  considerable  ability  of  many  ;  but  I  had  no  expectation,  I 
confess,  that  the  debates  would  be  carried  on  in  so  very  mas- 
terly a  manner  ;  so  that  on  every  question  of  importance  the 
subject  seemed  to  be  considered  in  every  possible  light." 

Bishop  Coke  started  northward  and  soon  sailed  for  Europe. 
Bishop  Asbury  went  south  to  counteract,  as  much  as 

r  J  1  Asbury  quell- 

possible,  the  O'Kelly  schism.  lie  traveled  exten-  ingtneo*Kei- 
sively  in  Virginia,  where  O'Kelly  had  the  greatest  lyschism' 
influence ;  preached,  held  Conferences,  class  and  band  meetings, 
and  love-feasts  ;  wrote  letters  to  those  likely  to  be  affected  by  the 
O'Kelly  movement,  and  used  every  means  for  counteracting  it. 
By  this  prompt  action  the  bishop  and  the  preachers  who  remained 
faithful  to  Methodism  averted  any  wide  spread  disaffection. 

Bishop  Asbury  soon  went  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  where  he 
found  a  trouble  which  had  culminated  in  a  small  secession,  and 
threatened  for  a  time  the  total  destruction  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  that  city.  Rev.  William  Hammett  was  a  missionary 
sent  by  Bishop  Coke  to  the  West  Indies.  By  some  Hammett 's 
means  he  had  come  to  the  United  States  and  was  in  secession, 
charge  of  the  Methodist  Church  in  Charleston.  As  a  thinker 
and  preacher  he  was  gifted  and  eloquent.  He  soon  became 
restless  and  fault-finding,  accused  Coke  and  Asbury  alike  of 
tyranny,  and  sowed  dissension  among  the  people.  He  headed 
a  secession  in  Charleston  about  the  close  of  1791,  anticipating 
O'Kelly  by  a  few  months,  and  probably  giving  some  encourage- 
ment to  the  O'Kelly  secession.  Hammett  erected  a  large  build- 
ing on  Hasel  Street,  calling  it  Trinity  Church.  His  followers 
took  the  name  "  Primitive  Methodists."  A  fter  a  time  another 
building  was  erected.  Troubles  arose  among  themselves.  Of  the 
few  local  preachers  who  joined  him  many  abandoned  his  cause, 
lie  died  in  1803,  and  the  whole  movement  vanished  from  sight. 

Bishop  Asbury  was  constantly  engaged  in  the  oversight  of 
the  churches  during  the  quadrennium,  making  nearly  Asbmy's 
a  circuit  of  the  Church  each  year.     lie  closed  the  ,abors' 
ecclesiastical  year  of  1792  in  South  Carolina,  where  he  enjoyed 


56 


MANUAL  OF 


the  best  hospitality  of  a  great-hearted  people.  Afterward  we 
see  him  "wrestling  with  floods"  and  living  on  "Indian  bread 
and  fried  bacon "  in  North  Carolina ;  next  crossing  the  Al- 
leghanies  amid  perils,  and  spending  several  weeks  in  the  settle- 
ments of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  enduring  great  privations; 
then  among  the  heights  of  the  Virginia  mountains,  preaching, 
administering  the  sacrament  to  the  hardy  mountaineers,  and 
resting  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  the  widow  of  General  Rus- 
sell, whose  wife  wTas  a  sister  of  Patrick  Henry ;  then  to  Ferry 
Hall ;  next  we  find  him  at  Boston,  where  he  edifies  all  who  at- 
tend his  ministry  ;  then  off  to  Vermont  and  New  York  ;  and  so 
in  a  ceaseless  round  of  episcopal  visitations  to  the  Churches, 
preaching,  holding  Conferences,  and  blessing  the  people  every- 
where. Four  years  of  such  work,  following  the  victory  of 
1792,  could  not  be  lost  upon  the  Church. 

In  May,  1795,  Asbury  was  called  to  mourn  the  death  of  Judge 
Death  of  White,  the  noble  layman  who  defended  and  sheltered 
judge  white.  him  jn  the  dayS  0f  the  Revolution.  Judge  White 
died  aged  sixty -five.  The  news  was  a  shock  to  the  good  bishop. 
He  records  of  him  :  "  He  was  a  friend  to  the  poor  and  oppressed. 
He  had  been  a  professed  Churchman,  and  was  united  to  the 
Methodist  Connection  about  seventeen  or  eighteen  years.  His 
house  and  heart  were  always  open,  and  he  was  a  faithful  friend 
to  liberty,  in  spirit  and  in  practice ;  he  was  a  most  indulgent 
husband,  a  tender  father,  and  an  affectionate  friend.  He  pro- 
fessed perfect  love  and  great  peace,  living  and  dying." 

Bishop  Asbury  was  in  contact  during  this  period  with  some 
some  remark-  remarkable  men.  Benjamin  Abbott  was  remarkable 
able  men.  for  eccentricities  and  revival  power.  His  death, 
which  occurred  August  11,  1796,  was  triumphant.  For  What- 
coat,  then  one  of  the  presiding  elders  in  Maryland — grave, 
fervidly  pious,  and  full  of  good  sense — Asbury  conceived  the 
highest  regard.  Henry  Smith,  who  came  to  a  ripe  old  age, 
having  served  the  Church  faithfully  for  over  fifty  years  and  left 
many  published  letters  full  of  reminiscences  of  early  Methodism, 
dated  from  "Pilgrim's  Rest,"  was  just  coming  into  the  minis- 
try.   One  of  the  most  remarkable  men  was  William  McKen- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


57 


dree,  who  had  been  influenced  by  O'Kelly,  and,  conceiving  ;i 
dislike  for  Bishop  Asbury  before  knowing  him,  had  withdrawn 
from  the  Church.  Soon,  however,  he  saw  his  folly,  returned, 
carefully  studied  Asbury  in  every  attitude,  came  to  love  and 
revere  him  as  God's  chosen  messenger,  and  finally  became  him- 
self a  bishop  and  a  worthy  successor  of  Asbury.  Enoch  George, 
who  had  been  soundly  converted  under  the  ministry  of  Jarratt, 
volunteered  to  go  into  South  Carolina  as  a  missionary,  and  so 
impressed  himself  upon  the  Church  as  afterward  to  become  one 
of  its  bishops.  The  two  brothers,  Coleman  and  Simon  Carlisle, 
"successful  evangelists  of  the  South,"  and  Stephen  G.  Koszel, 
-  a  young  itinerant  in  Virginia,  for  fifty  years  a  "chieftain  of 
the  Church  in  Virginia  and  Maryland,"  a  strong  debater,  "a 
leader  in  his  Annual  Conference,"  a  powerful  preacher,  and  a 
great  revivalist — these  men  were  among  Asbnry's  best  labor- 
ers in  the  South. 

In  the  North  Asbury  had  such  able  men  as  Garrettson,  who 
had  by  marriage  and  fortunate  purchase  of  land  become  wealthy, 
and  gave  liberally  of  his  means  to  the  Church  ;  George  Picker- 
ing, one  of  the  most  devoted  and  conscientious  men  [1769-1846], 
"  tall,  slight,  and  perfectly  erect,"  clothed  with  "  energy,  shrewd- 
ness, self-command,  and  benignancy  ;  "  Ezekiel  Cooper,  a  "rep- 
resentative" man,  cultured,  "a  living  encyclopedia,"  a  strong 
theologian,  a  keen  debater,  a  powerful  preacher ;  John  McClas- 
key,  full  of  Irish  wit  and  the  grace  of  God  [1756-1814] ;  Thomas 
Morrell,  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  honored  by  Congress  with  a 
commission  us  major  [1747-1838],  an  able  preacher,  the  per- 
sonal friend  of  Washington,  and  the  one  who  introduced  Coke 
and  Asbury  on  their  visit  to  the  President  in  1789  ;  Thomas 
Ware,  whose  autobiography  is  valuable  in  historical  reminis- 
cences ;  Valentine  Cook,  educated  at  Cokesbury,  acquainted 
with  Greek  and  Latin,  and  so  skilled  in  German  that  he  could 
preach  in  it  as  fluently  as  a  native.  Such  men,  in  the  Middle 
and  Northern  States,  were  constantly  going  forth  as  preachers 
of  righteousness. 

In  the  great  West  Bishop  Asbury  found  equally  strong  men 
to  march  to  the  front  at  the  bidding  of  the  Church.  Barnabas 


MANUAL  OF 


McHenry  (1767-1833)  was  "the  first  Methodist  preacher 
raised  up  west  of  the  mountains."  William  Burke,  a  man  of 
dauntless  courage,  born  to  lead,  who  never  tired  of  preaching 
nor  of  leading  penitents  to  Christ,  was  the  first  stationed 
preacher  in  Cincinnati,  in  1811.  Thomas  Scott  (afterward 
Judge  Scott)  brought  many  to  Christ.  Marrying  in  1796,  he 
located  and  studied  law.  Subsequently  as  lawyer  and  judge  he 
dignified  Methodism.  Dr.  Edward  Tiffin  was  converted  under 
Scott's  preaching  and  became  a  powerful  lay  member.  As 
governor  of  Ohio  and  as  a  senator  at  Washington,  he  threw  all 
his  influence  on  the  side  of  godliness.  These  are  a  few  of  the 
mighty  pioneers  of  the  wilds  of  the  West  whose  heroic  conduct 
was  the  admiration  of  Bishop  Asbury,  and  whose  annals  would 
require  volumes  to  set  forth  all  their  worth. 

The  history  of  this  period  may  well  be  closed  by  a  reference 
character  of  to  Bishop  Asbury.  He  was  a  close  thinker  and  a 
Asbury.  profoundly  conscientious  man  and  officer.  lie  was 
ever  inquiring  as  to  the  moral  quality  of  every  thought  and  act. 
Ofttimes  this  introspection,  affected  by  physical  ailment,  made 
him  unduly  sensitive.  Asbury  was  naturally  an  energetic  man, 
and  as  such  he  was  restless  without  movement  and  achieve- 
ment. When  he  sowed  the  seed  he  desired  to  see  the  growing 
Crop  ;  when  he  preached  he  must  see  sinners  converted  ;  when 
he  administered  he  must  see  the  Church  advance. 

Judging  from  his  Journal,  Asbury  seems  to  have  been  of  an 
exceedingly  morbid  temperament.  "  There  is  scarcely  a  page," 
writes  Stevens,  "  in  which  we  do  not  witness  the  heroic  strug- 
gle of  his  invincible  will  with  this  formidable  physical  draw- 
back. And  the  evil  grows  as  he  advances  in  life.  He  mentions 
oftener  than  ever  his  inward  conflicts,  alternations  of  joy  and 
sadness,  of  mental  freedom  and  oppression  in  the  pulpit.  He 
at  last  perceives  the  fact  that  his  melancholy  is  'constitutional,' 
and  will  end  only  with  his  life.  This  brave  struggle  with  an 
unconquerable  physical  evil  enhances  inexpressibly  the  great- 
ness of  his  character  and  of  his  unparalleled  life.  lie  had  not, 
however,  the  sagacity  or  the  scientific  knowledge  to  perceive 
that  his  excessive  occupation'caused  much  of  his  sufferings.  It 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  59 


may  be  soberly  affirmed  that  through  all  his  ministerial  career 
he  was  doing  the  work  of  ten  if  not  twenty  ordinary  men.  No 
human  strength  is  adequate  to  such  labors  as  his — journeys  on 
horseback  over  the  worst  roads,  thirty,  forty,  fifty  miles  a  day, 
with  almost  daily  preaching,  class-leading,  visits  from  house  to 
house,  frequent  and  laborious  sessions  of  Conferences,  a  corre- 
spondence of  a  thousand  letters  yearly,  for  most  of  the  year 
the  poorest  fare  of  log-cabins,  with  no  other  luxury  than  tea, 
which  he  always  carried  with  him  and  often  prepared  himself 
beneath  a  tree,  and  almost  continual  sickness,  chills,  fevers,  and 
rheumatism.  Aristotle  taught  that  the  vices  are  the  excesses 
of  the  virtues.  Asbury  erred  in  this  respect.  His  life,  effect- 
ive as  it  was,  might  have  been  more  effective  if  more  health- 
ful, physically  and  mentally.  Johnson  remarked  to  Boswell 
that  to  interpret  the  Scripture  command,  'be  instant  in  prayer,' 
literally  were  to  abuse  it ;  that  no  one  could  thus  obey  it  with- 
out becoming  a  maniac.  Asbury,  besides  his  other  extreme 
habits,  was  almost  a  literalist  in  this  respect.  He  usually  prayed 
with  families  at  the  close  of  each  meal,  at  taverns,  or  wher- 
ever else  he  stopped.  He  prayed  in  all  his  pastoral  visits.  For 
years  he  prayed  for  each  of  his  preachers  by  name  daily ;  at 
every  Conference  he  prayed  privately  over  each  name  on  the 
list  of  appointments ;  on  his  rides  he  prayed  ten  minutes  each 
hour,  and  he  records  that  there  were  few  minutes  in  the  day  in 
which  his  thoughts  were  not  absorbed  in  prayer.  He  fasted 
every  Friday,  besides  going  without  food  from  early  morning 
till  late  evening  several  days  in  almost  every  week.  "We  can- 
not wonder,  then,  that  his  life  became  abnormal,  and  we  cannot 
but  wonder  that  it  was  so  mighty  in  spite  of  that  fact."  * 

In  1795  the  Annual  Conferences  recommended  a  "  general 
fast "  to  be  observed  by  all  Methodists  on  the  first  General  fast 
Friday  in  March,  1796,  and  also  that  the  Church  ordered- 
observe  the  last  Thursday  in  October,  1796,  as  a  day  of  "  holy 
gratitude  and  thanksgiving."  f  The  days  were  carefully  ob- 
served.   There  followed  great  revivals. 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  iii,  pp.  119,  120. 
f  Banga'a  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  22-24. 


60 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  IX. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCES  OF  1796  AND  1800. 

The  Church  had  grown  in  importance  and  spirituality  dur- 
Tturd  General  m»  *ne  quadrennium.  The  third  General  Confer- 
cooference.  eilce  assembled  in  Baltimore,  the  "cradle  of  Amer- 
ican Methodism,"  October  20, 1796.  Bishop  Coke  had  returned 
after  an  absence  of  nearly  four  years,  reaching  Chesapeake  Bay 
October  3,  1796.  He  had  traveled  in  England,  Ireland,  Hol- 
land, and  the  West  Indies.  His  heart  was  burdened  regarding 
missionary  work,  to  which  he  gave  great  attention.  He  was 
also  preparing  his  Commentary  at  the  request  of  the  British 
Conference,  and  was  unceasing  in  preaching.  Coke  brought  as 
a  traveling  companion  Pierre  de  Pontavice,  a  French  nobleman 
who  had  been  converted  from  Romanism  to  Christianity. 

About  one  hundred  and  twenty  preachers  attended  this  Gen- 
eral Conference.  Many  from  the  West  who  were  entitled  to 
attend  could  not  do  so,  and  many  in  Xew  England  were  also 
prevented  from  attending.  Thus  it  began  to  be  discovered  that 
the  entire  Church  was  not  represented,  and  the  foundation  was 
laid  for  what  ultimately  came — "  a  delegated  General  Confer- 
ence." Great  harmony  prevailed  in  this  gathering,  and  the 
business  was  transacted  with  dispatch. 

The  acts  of  the  General  Conference  may  be  summed  up  as 
follows : 

1.  A  letter  was  brought  by  Bishop  Coke  from  the  British  Con- 
a  letter  from  ference  addressed  to  the  General  Conference,  off er- 
Engiand.  ing  fraternal  greetings  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  America,  which  they  esteemed  as  one  with  them- 
selves, and  congratulating  the  Church  on  its  "  amazing  success." 
To  this  an  address  was  returned  which  voiced  the  feeling  in 
the  entire  Church.* 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  iii,  p.  343 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  61 


2.  The  Church  was  divided  into  six  Annual  Conferences. 
They  were  the  New  England,  Philadelphia,  Balti-  Six  Annual 
more,  Virginia,  South  Carolina,  and  Western,  and  conferences, 
their  boundaries  were  quite  well  fixed.  The  persons  permit- 
ted to  attend  were  all  those  in  full  connection,  and  those  to 
be  received  from  trial  into  full  connection.  The  bishop  was 
also  to  hold  a  Conference  in  the  province  of  Maine  if  it  became 
desirable. 

3.  It  having  become  necessary  to  secure  uniformity  in  titles 
to  church  property  a  form  of  "  Deed  of  Trust"  was  Tities  to  prop- 
drafted  and  inserted  in  the  Discipline,  by  which  all  erty- 
church  property  was  to  be  conveyed  to  trustees  in  trust  for  the 
use  of  the  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the 
place  where  the  property  is  located,  guaranteeing  the  use  of  the 
pulpits  to  the  authorized  ministry. 

4.  A  "  Chartered  Fund  "  in  the  hands  of  trustees,  for  the  re- 
lief and  support  of  the  itinerant,  the  superan-  a  chartered 
nuated  and  worn-out  ministers  and  preachers  of  the  Fund- 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica, their  wives  and  children,  widows  and  orphans,  was  estab- 
lished.* It  was  provided  that  this  society  should  be  char- 
tered, which  was  done  by  the  Legislature  of  Penn-  Traveiing 

Sylvania.  deacons  or- 

^  '  dained  to  be 

5.  A  rule  was  adopted  that  "a  deacon  should  eiders  after 
serve  two  years  before  his  ordination  as  an  elder,  }^  ^iaco- 
except  in  missions."  nate- 

6.  It  was  provided  that  local  preachers  might  be  ordained 
deacons  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Quarterly  Local  preacn- 
Conferences  to  which  they  might  belong  after  serv-  ordaineTdea^ 
ing  as  local  preachers  four  years.    Provision  was  cons. 

also  made  for  trying  local  preachers  before  their  peers  when 
accused  of  crime.  . 

7.  The  care  of  the  Book  Concern  was  largely  placed  upon 
the  Philadelphia  Conference,  and  the  Concern  was  The  Bool£ 
located  at  Philadelphia.    A  monthly  periodical,  to  concern. 

be  called  the  Methodist  Magazine,  was  ordered. 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  45-50. 


62 


MANUAL  OF 


8.  A  strong  enactment  regarding  temperance  was  adopted. 

"  If  any  member  of  our  society,"  it  reads,  "  retail 

Temperance.  ...  . 

or  give  spirituous  liquors,  and  anything  disorderly  be 
transacted  under  his  roof  on  this  account,  the  preacher  who  has 
the  oversight  of  the  circuit  shall  proceed  against  him,  as  in  the 
case  of  other  immoralities,  and  the  person  accused  shall  be 
cleared,  censured,  suspended,  or  excluded,  according  to  his  con- 
duct, as  on  other  charges  of  immorality." 

9.  Strong  language  was  put  into  the  enactment  on  the  sub- 

ject of  slaverv,  declaring  the  evil  of  American  slav- 

Slavery.  J  & 

ery.  "  No  slave-holder  shall  be  received  into  the  so- 
ciety till  the  preacher  who  has  the  oversight  of  the  circuit  lias 
spoken  to  him  freely  and  faithfully  on  the  subject  of  slavery." 
Members  selling  slaves  were  to  be  excluded  from  the  society, 
and  in  the  case  of  members  purchasing  slaves  the  Quarterly 
Conference  was  directed  to  determine  the  number  of  years  the 
slave  should  work  for  his  purchase-price,  and  the  penalty  for 
failure  to  sign  the  paper  of  manumission.* 

10.  The  consideration  of  the  subject  of  education 

Education.  .  . 

tor  the  ministry. 

11.  The  marriage  of  members  with  "irreligious  persons" 

was  prohibited.  In  "a  doubtful  case"  the  person 
was  to  be  put  back  on  probation. 

12.  As  Bishop  Asbury's  health  was  so  poor  many  members 
of  the  General  Conference  thought  an  assistant  bishop  should 
be  elected.  Coke,  however,  to  relieve  the  case,  wrote  a  letter 
to  the  Conference  pledging  himself  to  remain  in  America  so 
long  as  needed,  which  he  honorably  did  until  released. 

The  General  Conference,  after  fourteen  days'  session,  closed 
in  peace  and  love.  Coke  described  it  as  follows  :  "  All  was  unity 
and  love.  There  was  not  a  jarring  string  among  us."  Asbury 
wrote:  "There  Ajere  souls  awakened  and  converted.  No  angry 
passions  were  felt  among  the  preachers.  We  had  a  great  deal 
of  good  and  judicious  talk." 

It  was  found  that  the  membership  of  the  Church  had  de- 
creased by  9,316  members,  owing  to  the  heated  controversy  of 

♦Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  iii,  pp.  341,  342. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  <;:>> 


the  O1  Kelly  ites  in  Virginia,  and  Hammettites  in  South  Caro- 
lina, but  there  had  been  an  increase  of  27  preachers. 

-P,  .  ,     .  .  Statistics. 

lu-om  tins  year  there  was  a  steady  increase  in  mem- 
bership, together  with  a  decrease  of  locations  among  the  minis- 
ters.   Tin's  last  indicated  a  better  support  for  the  preachers. 

Coke  and  Asbury  started  on  their  journey  to  the  South  to 
hold  the  Conferences  and  comfort  the  churches.  The  permission 
British  Conference  having  asked  for  the  return  of  sivencoke 

"  to  return  to 

Coke  to  England,  the  Virginia  Conference  by  vote  England, 
consented,  though  the  Conference  and  Bishop  Asbury  in  their 
letter  stated  that  the  final  settlement  of  the  matter  must  be 
with  the  General  Conference.*    Coke  sailed  from  Charleston, 
S.  C,  February  6,  1797.  f 

Not  long  after  this  Asbury  was  forced  to  abandon  his  severe 
and  tedious  journeys  on  horseback  and  use  a  sulky.  Asbury,8 
He  started  back  to  the  North,  reaching  Perry  Hall,  feebleness, 
where  he  rested  and  recuperated  for  some  time.  Soon  after 
this  it  became  Asbury's  wish  that  assistance  be  given  him 
in  his  great  work.  He  communicated  to  the  Conference  at 
Wilbraham  his  desire,  and  it  was  proposed  that  Whatcoat, 
Poythress,  and  Lee  should  be  elected  "assistant  bishops  in  the 
United  States.":);  Since  the  General  Conference  was  not  yet 
a  "  delegated  body  "  Asbury  held  that  the  consecration  of  bish- 
ops would  be  legal  by  order  of  ail  the  Annual  Conferences. 
On  the  recommendation  of  the  Conference  at  Wilbraham, 
where  Lee  had  presided  with  great  acceptability, §  he  left  New 
England  to  accompany  and  aid  Bishop  Asbury.  '  The  Virginia, 
Conference  urged  Bishop  Asbury  to  rest,  which  he  did,  and 
Lee  went  on  and  held  the  southern  Conferences. 

The  General  Conference  of  1800  was  appointed  to  meet 
October  20,  but  in  consequence  of  the  prevalence  of   Fourth  Gen- 

•  ••»»*«  it        i  -i*  eral  Confer- 

yellow  fever  m  Baltimore  and  elsewhere  during  the  ence. 
previous  year  it  was  deemed  unsafe  to  attempt  to  meet  at  the 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  89. 
f  Drew's  Life  of  Coke,  pp.  273,  274;  and  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  vol.  iii,  p.  365. 

%  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  iii,  p.  369. 
§  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  61. 


64 


MANUAL  OF 


time  designated.  Bishop  Asbury,  by  the  advice  of  certain  judi- 
cious Mends,  presented  the  matter  to  the  Annual  Conferences. 
They  judging  the  alteration  necessary,  Bishop  Asbury  called 
the  General  Conference  to  assemble  at  Baltimore,  Tuesday, 
May  6, 1800.  Xicholas  Snethen  acted  as  secretary.  The  second 
day  of  the  session  this  action  was  f  iilly  sanctioned  by  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  itself. 

There  were  115  members  present  during  the  session  and 
voting  for  bishop.  Asbury  records  that  there  were  116  mem- 
bers in  attendance.  As  yet  it  was  a  General  Conference,  and 
all  preachers  in  full  connection  had  membership  therein. 
After  this  the  requirement  was  that  a  preacher  should  travel 
four  years  and  be  an  elder.  The  following  were  among  the 
acts  of  the  Conference : 

1.  Bishop  Coke,  after  the  General  Conference  was  opened, 

read  the  address  of  the  British  Conference,  and 

Address  of  _  >  (  ' 

British  con-  explained  the  passages  respecting  his  return  to 
Europe,  adding  that  he  had  not  been  consulted  re- 
specting the  request.  The  matter  caused  a  warm  discussion, 
but  at  last  the  Conference  decided  that  he  might  return  to 
Europe,  but  with  the  proviso  that  he  was  to  return  to  "  Amer- 
ica as  soon  as  his  business  will  allow,  but  certainly  by  the  next 
General  Conference." 

2.  On  the  second  day,  on  the  motion  of  Ormund,  an  attempt 
Presiding  was  maae  to  revolutionize  the  presiding  eldership 
eldership.  }jy  providing  that  the  yearly  Conferences  be  author- 
ized to  "  nominate  and  elect  their  own  presiding  elders."  When 
the  matter  came  up  for  a  vote  there  was  some  feeling  devel- 
oped, but  the  motion  was  negatived. 

3.  The  Conference  asked  Bishop  Asbury  to  communicate  to 

them  "  what  he  had  determined  to  do  in  future." 

They  knew  how  feeble  was  his  health,  and  wished 
to  know  to  what  extent  he  desired  the  episcopacy  to  be 
strengthened.  He  recounted  the  facts  of  his  infirmity,  the 
necessity  of  traveling  with  a  colleague,  that  now  he  must  travel 
with  a  carriage,  and  frequently  to  rest  for  a  time  to  recruit. 
He  did  not  know  that  this  was  satisfactory  to  the  General  Con- 


METiionrsT  episcopal  church  history. 


65 


t\  rence.  Led  by  Ezekiel  Cooper  the  Conference  expressed 
themselves  as  fully  satisfied  with  Bishop  Asbtiry's  course,  and 
entreated  him  to  continue  his  services  as  one  of  the  general 
superintendents  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

4.  When  the  election  of  a  bishop  by  ballot  was  proposed 
several  attempts  were  made  to  embarrass  the  new  Attempt  to 
bishop  at  the  outset  of  his  administration.    Even     embarrass  a 

new  bishop. 

Bishop  Coke  proposed  that  the  new  bishop,  when- 
over  he  presided  at  an  Annual  Conference  in  the  absence  of 
Bishop  Asbnry,  should  read  the  proposed  list  of  stations  of  the 
preachers  in  the  Conference,  that  he  might  "hear  what  the 
Conference  has  to  say  upon  each  station."  So  unpopular  was 
this  that  the  next  day  Bishop  Coke  himself  withdrew  the 
proposition.  Another  handicapping  process  was  to  determine 
"the  powers  of  the  new  bishop,  whether  he  shall  be  equal  to 
Bishop  Asbnry  or  subordinate  to  him."  The  discussion  on  this 
was  animated,  and  the  movement  to  make  him  subordinate  was 
so  unpopular  that  consent  was  given  to  withdraw  it. 

Joshua  Wells  proposed  that  "  the  new  bishop,  in  stationing 
the  preachers,  be  aided  by  a  committee  of  not  less  than  three 
nor  more  than  four  preachers,  chosen  by  the  Conference." 
The  discussion  evinced  some  slight  remains  of  the  O'Kelly 
leaven,  but  the  vote  was  against  this. 

The  proposition  to  require  that  eligibility  to  the  office  of 
bishop  be  made  to  depend  upon  the  proposed  candi-  EI1  lbilIt  for 
date  having  traveled  as  an  itinerant  for  fifteen  years  the  episcopal 
was  advocated  by  R.  R.  Roberts,  but  seeing  the  tide  offlce' 
largely  against  him  he  withdrew  it.  As  a  last  attempt  Mansfield 
proposed,  first,  that  the  bishops  shall  have  "  full  and  equal  juris- 
diction in  all  and  every  respect ; "  second,  they  shall  both  attend 
the  Conferences  and  "mutually  preside  and  station  the  preach- 
ers," and  if  either  were  absent  the  other  should  have  full 
power  to  act ;  and,  third,  they  should  mutually  agree  upon 
their  routes  to  the  several  Conferences.  These  propositions 
were  negatived  after  a  full  canvass. 

All  questions  being  out  of  the  way,  on.  May  12  the  Confer- 
ence cast  their  votes  for  a.,  bishop*  and  on  the  first  ballot  there 


66 


MANUAL  OF 


was  a  tie  between  Jesse  Lee  and  Richard  Whatcoat.    On  the 
second  ballot  Richard  Whatcoat  received  fifty-nine 

Whatcoat  «/ 

elected  a      votes,  Jesse  Lee  fifty-five,  and   one  blank.  Lee 
took  his  defeat  good-naturedly.    Whatcoat  was  con- 
secrated a  bishop  on  May  18,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  with 
great  zeal  and  faithfully  met  the  requirements  of  the  office. 

5.  The  rule  respecting  presents  made  to  preachers  was  by 

a  majority  of  two  thirds  stricken  out  of  the  Dis- 

Presents.  , 

ciplme. 

6.  It  wTas  determined  that  every  child  of  a  traveling  preacher 

a    should  receive  sixteen  dollars  per  annum  until  seven 

Allowance  for  1 

preachers'  years  of  age,  and  from  seven  to  fourteen  years  twen- 
ty-four dollars.    This  continued  the  rule  until  1860. 

7.  A  most  important  item  in  criminal  jurisprudence  was 
.     ■     introduced  by  William  McKenclree — that  when  in  a 

Preacher  dif-  J 

fering  in  trial  the  preacher  differ  from  the  judgment  of  the 
from  commit-  society  or  committee  concerning  the  innocence  or 
tee-  guilt  of  a  person  the  minister  might  refer  the  case 

to  the  next  Quarterly  Conference. 

8.  It  was  provided  that  there  should  be  seven  Annual  Con- 
seven  Annual  ferences — New  England,  New  York,  Western,  South 
conferences.  Carolina,  Virginia,  Baltimore,  and  Philadelphia. 
The  boundaries  were  quite  well  defined. 

9.  The  question  of  African  slavery  came  up,  and  the  mem- 

bers of  the  Conference  expressed  themselves  as 
wholly  opposed  to  slave-holding.  Ezekiel  Cooper 
introduced  a  resolution,  which  was  agreed  to,  "  that  a  com- 
mittee be  appointed  to  prepare  an  affectionate  address  to  the 
Methodist  Societies  in  the  United  States,  stating  the  evils  of 
the  spirit  and  practice  of  slavery,  the  necessity  of  doing  away 
the  evil  as  far  as  the  laws  of  the  respective  States  will  allow  ; 
and  that  the  said  address  be  laid  before  the  Conferences  for 
their  consideration,  and,  if  agreed  to,  be  signed  by  the  bishops 
in  behalf  of  the  Conference."  An  address  was  prepared  and 
sent  forth  as  ordered.  The  Annual  Conferences  were  directed 
to  appoint  committees  to  memorialize  "  the  State  Legislatures 
from  year  to  year  for  a  gradual  abolition  of  slavery."  The 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  07 


Methodist  Episcopal  Church  even  then  gave  no  uncertain  sound 
regarding  u  the  sum  of  all  villainies." 

10.  Provision  was  made  for  keeping  the  records  conference 

records 

of  the  Annual  Conferences,  and  an  examination  of 
them  by  the  General  Conference. 

11.  The  question  of  "  raising  annual  supplies  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel,  for  the  making  up  the  preach- 
er's allowance,  and  to  assist  in  the  support  of  the  ^eginff  sup~ 
widows  and  orphans  of  preachers,"  absorbed  a  large 

portion  of  time.  It  was  found  that  the  inadequate  support 
of  the  ministry  compelled  many  to  locate,  and  most  of  those 
who  remained  were  obliged  to  endure  hardships  and  pinchings 
of  poverty  untold.  Two  sources  wTere  looked  to  for  relief, 
the  preachers  and  the  collections  from  the  people.  Each 
preacher  was  to  pay  into  a  common  fund  on  being  admitted  to 
full  connection  $2.67,  and  $2  each  subsequent  year,  and  mar- 
riage fees.  The  surplus  in  the  hands  of  the  stewards,  after 
paying  their  preachers,  should  go  to  this  fund,  and  also  col- 
lections at  Conference,  and  "  the  annual  produce  of  the  Char- 
tered Fund."  The  great  thought  of  the  fathers  of  Methodism 
was  that  the  ministry  formed  a  common  brotherhood,  and  they 
should  receive  share  and  share  alike. 

12.  The  month  of  May  proving  to  be  an  auspicious  time 
for  holding  the  General  Conference,  it  was  ordained 

.  .  .       Next  General 

that  the  next  be  held  in  Baltimore,  commencing  conference  to 
May  6,  1804.  belnMay- 

13.  The  Book  Concern  and  its  business  absorbed  considera- 
ble attention.    Ezekiel  Cooper  was  appointed  "  the 
superintendent  of  the  book  business."    The  Philadel-  Con~ 
phia  Conference  was  to  appoint  a  book  committee, 

who  should  have  power  to  determine  what  books  should  be 
published.  Three  things  were  found  desirable  :  1.  That  the 
best  books  and  at  the  cheapest  prices  should  be  published. 
2.  These  books  should  be  scattered  through  all  the  Church, 
and  thereby  the  Church  become  well-informed  concerning  lit- 
erary and  religious  matters.  3.  That  the  money  for  these 
should  be  faithfully  collected  and  returned  to  the  Book  Con- 


G3  MANUAL  OF 

t  0 

cern.    Tlie  fathers  understood  well  the  need  for  commercial 

returns  and  business   integrity.     Presiding  elders  and  the 

preachers  were  made  the  authorized  agents  of  the  Concern. 

This  was  the  first  time  the  term  ''Book  Concern"  was  used. 
Four  years  before  it  was  called  the  "  Book  Fund,"  and  the 
agent  was  the  "  book  steward."  All  profits  arising  from  the 
Book  Concern,  after  reserving  a  sufficient  capital  for  carrying 
on  the  business,  were  to  be  paid  to  the  Chartered  Fund,  thereby 
aiding  in  the  support  of  the  preachers  and  their  families. 

14.  The  bishops  were  authorized  to  ordain  colored  preachers 
as  local  deacons. 

At  Charleston,  S.  C,  about  1802,  some  northern  pamphlets 
m-treatment  on  slavery  were  publicly  burned  in  the  presence  of 
at cnarfestoi£  the  mayor;  and  one  of  the  Methodist  preachers, 
tfeansof dav-  Dougharty,  for  "the  antislavery  action  of  the  Gen- 
ery-  eral  Conference  "  was  assailed  by  being  held  under 

a  pump  by  the  mob  one  winter  day,  and  water  pumped  on  him 
until  he  contracted  a  cold  that  caused  his  death.  The  assault 
occurred  in  the  winter  of  1801,  and  he  lingered  until  1807. 

After  a  profitable  session  the  General  Conference  adjourned 
May  20,  1800.  A  great  revival  occurred  during  the  session. 
Asbury  records  that  more  than  a  hundred  persons,  at  different 
places,  professed  conversion  at  this  time. 

The  Church  at  large  had  not  quite  recovered  from  the 
O'Kelly  secession,  but  still  there  were  64,894  members  and  287 
ministers.  Among  the  colored  people  the  work  had  greatly 
prospered,  their  numbers  amounting  to  13,452.  Of  these 
5,497  were  in  Maryland.  The  larger  portion  of  the  member- 
ship was  in  the  South,  both  of  white  and  black. 

Nothing  of  special  importance  occurred  during  the  quadren- 
nium  from  1800  to  1804.  The  same  heroic  zeal  was  evinced 
by  Asbury  and  his  fellow-laborers  as  in  former  times.  Bishop 
AVhatcoat  relieved  Asbury  of  many  burdens.  Asbury  seemed 
to  somewhat  recover.  To  the  utmost  of  his  strength  he  was 
instant  in  season.  Bishop  Coke  was  absent  all  the  time  either 
in  England  or  on  the  European  continent.  He  was  every- 
where an  earnest  wTorker  for  Methodism  and  Christ. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


69 


CHAPTER  X. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1804. 

The  fifth  General  Conference  assembled  in  Light  Street 
Church,  Baltimore,  Md.,  May  7,  1804.  Bishop  Coke,  as  senior, 
presided  in  the  opening  session.  There  were  present  112 
members :  from  New  England  Conference,  4 ;  from  the 
Western,  4;  South  Carolina,  5;  Virginia,  17;  Baltimore,  29; 
Philadelphia,  41 ;  New  York,  12.  This  was  not  a  delegated 
Conference,  and  all  ministers  in  full  connection  who  had 
traveled  four  years  were  entitled  to  seats.  But  from  the 
more  distant  Conferences  it  was  impossible  for  many  to  attend. 
The  proximity  of  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Conferences  en- 
abled all,  or  nearly  all,  of  their  preachers  to  be  present.  The 
distant  Conferences  not  being  fully  represented  were  practically 
powerless  in  influence.  These  things  paved  the  way  for  a  del- 
egated General  Conference,  without  which  the  Church  must 
soon  have  been  divided  into  factions. 

Among  the  members  of  this  Conference  were  some  men 
already  distinguished,  and  others  who  attained  to  great  distinc- 
tion a  few  years  afterward,  and  became  leaders  of  thought  and 
religion. 

John  Wilson  was  elected  secretary,  and  rules  for  the  order 
of  the  Conference  were  adopted  the  first  day.  It  was  found 
that  the  past  quadrennium  had  been  one  of  unusual  prosperity. 
The  increase  in  membership  had  been  over  49,000,  so  that  in 
the  Church  there  were  113,134  members  and  400  preachers. 
The  Church  had  now  extended  to  every  State  in  the  Union, 
and  the  brave  itinerants  had  penetrated  to  regions  beyond,  even 
to  Florida  and  East  Louisiana,  and  to  the  Natchez  country. 
In  the  territory  since  developed  into  the  three  key -stone  States 
of  the  Union— Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois — there  wrere  the 
germs  of  churches  destined  in  three  fourths  of  a  century  to 


TO 


MANUAL  OF 


embrace  nearly  500,000  members,  and  to  manage  seminaries, 
colleges,  and  universities,  the  peers  of  the  best  in  the  country. 

By  the  General  Conference  of  1804  many  important  meas- 
ures were  adopted,  as  follows  : 

1.  Ezekiel  Cooper  proposed  an  alteration  of  phraseology  in 
the  Twenty-third  Article  of  Religion,  so  that  the 

Kecognition  ^  . 

of  the  gov-  term  "  General  Act  of  Confederation  "  be  changed  to 
emment.  u  constitution  0f  the  United  States,"  and  the  words 
"  are  a  sovereign  and  independent  Nation  "  were  inserted  after 
"  States."  This  was  adopted,  and  the  Methodist  Church 
marched  in  advance  in  recognizing  "  the  supreme  "  sovereignty 
of  the  Nation  "  over  all  its  States."  "  It  was  at  a  period  of  no 
little  political  agitation  on  the  question  of  State  sovereignty 
that  this  change  was  made ;  the  '  Kentucky  Resolutions  of 
1798 '  and  those  of  Virginia,  1799,  had  become  the  basis  of  a 
States'  Rights  party."  Political  excitement  ran  high  ;  families 
were  greatly  divided  ;  but  Methodism  stood  by  the  doctrine 
that  the  Union  of  States  was  no  longer  a  Confederation,  but  a 
Nation.  By  this  act  of  1804  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
has  stood,  and  has  pleaded  the  "  loyal  duty  of  all  its  people." 
Each  confer-      2.  Each  Annual  Conference  was  to  be  permitted  to 

ence    might      .  .  , 

sit  a  week.     sit  a  week,  at  least,  it  so  much  time  was  required. 

3.  When  a  bishop  was  necessarily  absent  from  a  Conference 

he  had  the  power  to  appoint  a  presiding  elder  to 

Presiding  offl-  ...  . 

cer  in  absence   preside  in  his  place.    In  case  no  such  appointment 
was  made,  or  the  elder  did  not  attend,  the  Confer- 
ence was  to  elect  its  own  president  from  among  its  presiding 
elders  without  debate. 

4.  A  time  limit  to  the  appointment  of  a  preacher  to  the  same 

charge  was  fixed  at  two  years  ;  but  it  was  not  to 

Time  limit.  °  ^ 

apply  to  presiding  elders. 

5.  Again  the  European  Conference  asked,  by  letter,  that 

Bishop  Coke  might  be  permitted  to  return  to  them, 

British  Con-  1  .  . 

ference  asks    which  was  agreed  to,  provided  that  he  held  himself 
in  readiness  to  come  back  to  America  at  the  request 
of  three  Annual  Conferences,  and  to  return  before  the  next 
General  Conference. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  fl 


6.  Regarding  eligibility  to  the  trusteeship  of  the  Chartered 
Fund,  it  was  held  that  in  the  case  of  a  candidate  Eligibility  to 
for  this  trusteeship,  which  required  a  certain  nam-  chTrtelred 
ber  of  years  of  membership  for  eligibility  as  a  Fuud- 
candidate  for  the  office,  if  he  had  at  any  time  withdrawn  from 
the  Church  and  had  rejoined,  the  date  from  which  eligibility 
commenced  must  be  reckoned  from  the  last  time  of  joining 
the  Church. 

7.  Ezekiel  Cooper  was  given  charge  of  the  Book  Concern, 
with  the  title  of  "  General  Book  Steward."  By  a  cooper  atBook 
vote  of  thirty-six  to  twenty-six  the  Book  Concern  Concem- 
was  removed  from  Philadelphia,  and  by  a  vote  of  thirty-eight 
to  thirty-six  New  York  was  chosen  as  the  new  location.  The 
Book  Committee  of  five  were  to  be  appointed  by  the  New 
York  Conference.  After  paying  all  expenses  and  reserving  a 
sufficient  capital,  the  balance  of  money  was  to  be  applied  to 
u  the  support  of  the  distressed  traveling  preachers  and  their 
families,  and  the  widows  and  orphans  of  preachers." 

The  Conference  recommended  the  following  thirteen  books 
to  be  published,  namely,  Methodist  Repository,  Por-  Bookg  recom. 
trait  of  St.  Paul,  Life  of  Rev.  P.  Dickinson,  the  mended, 
general  Irish  Hymn  Book,  five  volumes  of  Mr.  Wesley's  Ser- 
mons, the  Ecclesiastical  History  to  be  prepared  by  Bishop 
Coke,  Wesley's  Appeal,  Wesley's  Notes  on  the  New  Testament, 
Benson's  Life  of  Fletcher,  The  Mourner,  Cowper's  translation 
of  Guy  on,  Nineteen  Conversations  on  the  Death  of  Lgnatius, 
and  the  second  volume  of  Wesley's  Journal. 

Near  the  close  of  the  Conference  John  Wilson  was  elected 
"assistant  book  steward,"  and  in  case  of  the  death  or  resig- 
nation of  the  principal  in  office  he  was  to  take  the  place  until 
the  next  session  of  the  New  York  Conference,  which  might 
supply  the  vacancy. 

8.  The  subject  of  slavery  was  brought  up  on  several  motions 
and  discussed,  and  many  propositions  were  advanced. 

The  conclusions  reached  were,  (1.)  The  continued 
conviction  of  the  great  evil  of  slavery.    (2.)  Slave-holders 
hereafter,  in  case  of  admission  to  official  station,  must  give 


72 


MANUAL  OF 


security  for  the  emancipation  of  their  slaves  either  immediately 
or  gradually.  (3.)  Traveling  preachers,  on  becoming  owners 
of  slaves,  must  emancipate  them  if  possible,  or  forfeit  their 
ministerial  character.  (4.)  Slave-holders  are  not  to  be  admitted 
to  full  membership  in  the  Church  until  the  preacher  of  the 
charge  has  spoken  to  them  faithfully  on  the  subject  of  slavery. 
(5.)  Penalties  were  affixed  for  selling  slaves.  (6.)  The  rules 
must  be  suspended  in  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and 
Georgia  on  account  of  the  strictness  of  the  State  laws.  The 
preachers  were  frequently  to  admonish  the  slaves  to  be  respect- 
ful and  obedient  "  to  the  commands  and  interests  of  their  re- 
spective masters." 

The  General  Conference  adjourned  on  the  afternoon  of  May 
23.  The  record  is  for  the  first  time  signed  by  all  the  bishops, 
and  in  the  following  order :  "  Francis  Asbury,  li.  Whatcoat, 
and  T.  Coke." 

Jesse  Lee  says  the  Conference  "  closed  in  peace,  and  the 
preachers  parted  in  much  love."  In  a  few  days  Bishop  Coke 
departed  for  England.    He  never  returned. 

The  Methodist  Church  was  now  regarded  throughout  the 
Methodism  a  ^an(^  as  a  rising  power.  There  had  been  raised  up  a 
rising  power,  large  band  of  itinerant  preachers  who  commanded 
attention  and  respect ;  a  body  of  local  preachers  whose  unpaid 
labors  can  never  be  estimated ;  and  a  multitude  of  members  of 
the  best  character  the  country  had  ever  known.  The  Philadel- 
phia Conference  took  the  numerical  lead,  Baltimore  was  next, 
and  Virginia  followed.  The  more  cold  and  sturdy  northern 
people  were  taking  hold  of  Methodism,  and  the  South  was  los- 
ing its  prestige  in  having  the  greatest  Methodist  population. 
Great  revivals  were  in  every  part  of  the  land. 

Methodism  from  1804  to  1808  was  no  less  active  in  the  United 
Methodist  States  and  Canada  than  in  former  years.  It  is  worth 
activity.  our  wm^e  to  mention  a  few  names  of  great  workers. 
Lorenzo  Dow  preached  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Alabama 
in  1803,  and  was  still  there  in  1804.  In  1807  Josiah  Handle 
and  Matthew  P.  Sturdevant  went  over  the  Tombigbee  Circuit. 
William  M.  Kennedy  entered  South  Carolina  Conference  in 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  73 


1805,  continuing  to  1840,  when  he  died  from  apoplexy.  Lovick 
Pierce,  the  father  of  Bishop  George  F.  Pierce,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  entered  the  South  Carolina  Con- 
ference in  1805,  and  lived  till  1879.  Samuel  Dunwoody,  a 
Pennsylvanian,  entered  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in  1806 
and  died  in  1854.  Alfred  Griffith,  in  1806,  entered  the  Balti- 
more Conference — a  man  of  great  ability  and  marked  force  of 
character.  John  Early  entered  the  Virginia  Conference  1807, 
and  in  1854  became  a  bishop  in  the  Church  South.  In  1808 
William  Capers  became  connected  with  the  South  Carolina 
Conference.  A  "  vivid,  brilliant,  and  generous"  man.  In  1828 
the  Church  sent  him  as  its  representative  to  England.  He  be- 
came a  bishop  in  the  Church  South,  and  died  in  1855.  In 
1804  Beverly  Waugh  was  converted,  and  in  1809,  when  nearly 
twenty  years  old,  entered  the  Baltimore  Conference.  He  rose 
to  eminence,  and  in  1836  was  elected  a  bishop.  He  was  a 
man  of  dignitied  bearing,  tk  calm,"  "  benign,"  u  prompt,"  and 
"  cautious." 

In  the  Middle  and  Northern  States  John  Emory,  a  lawyer  of 
rising  fame,  commenced  to  travel  under  the  elder 
about  1809  ;  afterward  entered  the  Philadelphia  Con- 
ference, was  elected  a  bishop  in  1832,  and  died,  by  accident,  in 
1^35,  in  the  midst  of  great  usefulness. 

Nathan  Bangs  commenced  to  preach  in  1807,  and  Marvin 
Richardson  in  1808.  Bangs  was  the  "father  of  the  Missionary 
Societv  "  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  These  were 
giants.  It  is  a  rare  treat  to  write  the  names  of  Charles  Giles  and 
George  Lane,  of  1805  ;  Peter  P.  Sandford,  Phineas  Rice,  and 
George  Harmon,  of  1807.  Brave  men  penetrated  into  northern 
and  wTestern  New  York,  and  with  fellow-laborers  equally  as 
honorable  planted  the  standard  of  the  cross  in  that  then  wild 
and  trackless  country. 

In  the  New  England  States  men  were  rising  to  do  unfalter- 
inglv  the  work  of  the  Church.    Here  were  such  men 

.       .         -r       •    -r^  .  -  ^  .      T     ,  „      -i      ✓-nii    New  England. 

coming  m  as  Lewis  Bates,  m  1804  ;  Joel  Steele,  Caleb 

Eogg,  Solomon  Sias,  in  1806  ;  Charles  Virgin,  Joseph  S.  Merrill, 

in  1807;  Isaac  Bonney,  David  Kilbourn,  in  1808. 


74 


MANUAL  OF 


In  the  West  some  wonderful  men  appeared.  Peter  Cart- 
in  western  wright  entered  Kentucky  Conference  in  1804. 
states.  There  never  was  another  like  him.  David  Young, 
in  1805 ;  John  Collins,  who  founded  the  Church  in  Cincinnati ; 
William  Beauchamp,  Samuel  Parker,  Moses  Crume,  Samuel  H. 
Thompson,  Jesse  Walker,  James  Axley,  McCormick,  Gatch, 
and  Finley,  with  a  host  of  others. 

Bishop  Whatcoat  discharged  the  work  of  a  bishop  until  the 
wnatcoat's  spring  of  1806,  when  infirmity  and  sickness  compelled 
death.  him  to  retire.    His  warm  friend,  Governor  Richard 

Bassett,  in  Delaware,  gave  him  a  home  and  the  best  of  care. 
His  sickness  lasted  thirteen  weeks,  when  he  died,  July  5,  1806, 
in  great  triumph.  He  was  buried  "under  the  altar  of  Wesley 
Chapel,  in  the  outskirts  of  Dover."  Whatcoat  was  born  in  Quin- 
ton,  England,  February  23, 1736.  "  As  a  preacher  his  discourses 
were  plain,  instructive,  and  highly  spiritual.  As  a  presiding 
officer  he  combined  simplicity  and  dignity.  In  his  private  life 
he  was  remarkable  for  his  entire  devotion  to  the  cause  of  God." 
Said  Laban  Clark,  "  I  think  I  may  safely  say  if  I  ever  knew  one 
who  came  up  to  St.  James's  description  of  a  perfect  man — one 
who  bridled  his  tongue  and  kept  in  subjection  his  whole  body — 
that  man  was  Bishop  Whatcoat." 

Bishop  Asbury  being  now  left  alone  desired  the  election  of 
another  bishop.  It  was  proposed  that  each  of  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences elect  seven  delegates,  to  form  a  delegated  Conference 
to  meet  in  1807  and  elect  a  bishop.  All  the  Conferences  ap- 
proved, except  the  Virginia  Conference.  It  was  urged  that  such 
a  movement  would  forestall  a  delegated  General  Conference. 
Afterward  Lee  continually  urged  the  expediency  and  legality 
of  a  General  Conference  composed  of  delegates,  whereby  the 
distant  Conferences  might  have  j)roper  representation. 

Bishop  Asbury  was  under  the  necessity  of  having  an  attend- 
ant, who  could  take  from  him  much  of  the  work  of  the  Confer- 
ences, and  in  every  way,  except  in  ordinations,  meet  the  demands 
of  the  Church  until  the  session  of  the  General  Conference  in 
1808.  It  is  generally  thought  that  the  Church  was  not  injured 
or  the  cause  retarded  by  this  course. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


75 


CHAPTER  XL 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1808. 

The  General  Conference  of  1808  is  memorable  as  being  the 
last  of  the  non-delegated  General  Conferences.  It 

°  t  Last  non-dele- 

assembled  in  Baltimore  on  Friday,  May  6,  1808.  gated  confer- 

Bishop  Asbury  was  the  only  bishop  present.   Bishop  ence* 

Whatcoat  had  died  and  Coke  was  in  Europe.    There  were  129 

members.     Of  these  New  York  Conference  had  19,  New 

England  7,  Western  11,  South  Carolina  11,  Virginia  18, 

Baltimore  31,  Philadelphia  32.    Baltimore  and  Philadelphia 

thus  had  enough  votes  within  two  to  control  the  action  of 

the  Conference  and  change  the  entire  character  of  the  Church. 

This,  it  will  be  seen,  caused  great  restlessness,  and  led  the 

minority  to  heroic  action  before  they  averted  the  peril  of 

the  hour. 

William  P.  Chandler  and  Francis  Ward  were  elected  secre- 
taries. A  question  of  eligibility  to  membership  being  laised,  it 
was  decided  that  as  a  pre-requisite  a  preacher  must  have  trav- 
eled four  full  years  under  the  direction  of  an  Annual  Confer- 
ence. 

1.  The  first  question  that  arose  in  the  General  Conference 
and  absorbed  its  attention  for  three  days  was  Bishop  Case  of  Bisn. 
Coke's  case,  involving  the  adjustment  of  his  rela-  °PCoke- 
tion.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day's  session  Ezekiel 
Cooper  laid  before  the  Conference  the  communication  from  the 
British  Conference,  and  two  letters  from  Bishop  Coke.  Bishop 
Asbury,  from  a  sense  of  delicacy,  retired  during  the  reading  of 
the  letter  from  the  British  Conference,  because  of  compliment- 
ary references  to  himself,  and  Freeborn  Garrettson  was  called 
upon  to  preside. 

By  the  preceding  General  Conference  Bishop  Coke  had  been 
permitted  to  be  absent  in  England  during  the  quadrennium, 


70 


MANUAL  OF 


but  was  to  return  by  the  General  Conference  of  1808.  While 
coke's  mar-  absent  he  had  married  a  most  estimable  lady.  His 
riage.  attachments  for  England  and  British  Methodism 

were  very  strong.  In  some  respects  he  had  taken  the  place  of 
Mr.  Wesley.  Besides,  he  was  greatly  devoted  to  the  develop- 
ment of  the  foreign  missionary  work.  The  British  Conference 
was  desirous  of  retaining  him  and  his  services.  Bishop  Coke 
had,  after  his  marriage,  proposed  to  Bishop  Asbury  to  return  to 
America  and  make  it  his  permanent  home,  on  condition  that 
the  continent  be  divided  as  nearly  equally  as  possible  between 
him  and  Bishop  Asbury,  he  taking  one  part  and  Asbury  the 
other.  This  plan  was  wholly  distasteful  to  the  American 
preachers ;  scarcely  one  was  favorable  to  it.  They  preferred 
general  superintendency. 

We  have  already  referred  to  Dr.  Coke's  letter  to  Bishop 
White  proposing  a  union  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 

Coke  s  letter  . 

to  Bishop  pal  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Churches  in  Amer- 
ica. This  matter,  during  the  quadrennium,  had  come 
to  light,  and  was  a  disturbing  element  both  to  Cuke  and  the 
Conference.  The  letter  to  Bishop  White  was  dated  Richmond, 
April  24,  1791,  and  Bishop  White's  reply  soon  followed."  These 
letters  had  been  kept  secret.  But  in  1804  it  became  whispered 
by  some  of  the  Protestant  Ejinscopal  clergymen  that  such  letters 
had  passed  between  Coke  and  White.  Methodists  demanded 
them,  and  they  were  produced.  Their  contents  startled  the 
Church.  Many  felt  that  Coke's  action  would  be  a  bartering 
away  the  interests  of  Methodism,  and  demurred.  It  is  prob- 
able that  these  two  things  deterred  Bishop  Coke  from  coining 
to  the  General  Conference  of  1808. 

Bishop  Coke  addressed  two  letters  to  the  General  Conference. 

The  first  was  dated  "  City  of  Durham  ["England"], 

Coke's  letters  J  i        i  . 

to  the  General  November  16,  1807."  This  was  really  a  plea  that  in 
conference.  case  returned  to  America  he  should  be  given  full 
episcopal  authority. f  But  the  General  Conference  had  never 
denied  him  such  authority  when  in  America  and  acting  under 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  201-205. 
f  Ibid.,  p.  197. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  77 


the  orders  of  the  Conference.  He  seems  to  have  misconstrued 
the  spirit  of  the  American  preachers.  The  second  letter  was 
dated  "Near  Leeds  [Yorkshire],  January  29,  1808,"  and  was 
an  attempt  at  a  defense  or  explanation  of  his  letter  to  Bishop 
White  in  1791.  Bishop  Coke,  in  this  letter,  sought  to  estab- 
lish two  things.  First,  that  in  proposing  this  scheme  to  Bishop 
White  he  had  feared  for  the  permanency  of  Methodism.  It  was 
in  his  sight  an  experiment,  and  the  Society,  "taken. as  an  ag- 
gregate, was  almost  like  a  rope  of  sand."  Second,  that  he  was 
not  questioning  the  validity  of  his  or  Bishop  Asbury's  ordina- 
tion. Even  if  in  the  union  of  the  two  Churches  it  became  nec- 
essary, in  order  to  please  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  that 
there  should  be  a  re-ordination,  it  would  be  "  perfectly  justifi- 
able for  the  enlargement  of  the  field  of  action."  * 

These  letters  and  their  contents  were  thoroughly  discussed. 
It  was  not  in  the  least  doubtful  what  was  the  con-  Letters  dis- 
sensus  of  the  General  Conference  regarding  Bishop  cussed. 
Coke.  His  candid  explanations,  acknowledgment  of  error  in 
conduct,  especially  in  communicating  with  Bishop  White,  and 
desire  to  be  retained  in  the  good  graces  of  the  American  Church, 
softened  the  asperities  of  many  members  of  the  Coirference. 
But  the  feeling  could  not  be  wholly  allayed.  There  was  a  set- 
tled conviction  that  his  usefulness  was  ended  in  America.  A 
letter  to  Bishop  Coke  was  drawn  up,  couched  in  excellent  lan- 
guage and  breathing  a  kindly  spirit,  and  adopted  by  the  Con- 
ference. It  frankly  and  clearly  set  forth  the  affectionate  regard 
of  the  people  for  him,  their  grateful  remembrance  of  his  labors 
of  love,  and  their  obligations  for  his  "disinterested  services, 
dangers,  and  difficulties"  while  serving  the  American  brethren. f 
The  Conference  agreed  that  he  remain  in  Europe  "  till  he  be 
called  to  the  United  States  by  the  General  Conference  or  by  all 
the  American  Conferences  respectively." 

To  the  letter  of  the  British  Conference  J  an  appropriate 
answer  was  made  showing  how  closely  the  American  Church 
was  knit  to  the  British  Connection. § 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  207-211. 
\Ibid.,  pp.  212-215.  %  Ibid.,  pp.  216,  217.  §  Ibid.,  pp.  218-220. 


78 


MANUAL  OF 


2.  The  matter  of  Bishop  Coke  being  out  of  the  way,  other 

business  was  taken  up.    William  McKendree  was 

McKendree  1 

elected  bish-  elected  a  bishop  by  ninety-five  votes  out  of  one 
hundred  and  twenty-eight.  He  was  born  in  King 
William  County,  Ya.,  July  6,  1757.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  was  present  when  Cornwallis  surren- 
dered. Converted  in  1787,  he  entered  the  Conference  in  1788, 
became  a  presiding  elder  in  1796,  was  elected  bishop  in  1808, 
and  became  senior  bishop  in  1816.  In  this  relation  he  con- 
tinued nineteen  years,  and  died  March  5,  1835. 

3.  The  most  important  business  of  the  General  Conference 
The  General  °f  1808  was  the  provision  for  a  change  from  a 
conference    strictly  general  Conference  to  a  delegated  body. 

hereafter    to    m,  .  ~  P 

be  a  deiegat-  The  matter  came  before  this  General  Conference 
on  a  memorial  of  the  New  York  Conference, 
which  memorial  had  been  concurred  in  by  the  New  England, 
Western,  and  South  Carolina  Conferences.*  These  four  Con- 
ferences represented  forty-eight  votes.  It  was  a  masterly 
memorial,  that  well  deserved  and  received  the  most  careful  and 
candid  consideration.  It  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  four- 
teen, being  two  from  each  Conference.  This  committee  con- 
sisted of  Cooper,  Wilson,  Pickering,  Soule,  McKendree,  Burke, 
Phoebus,  Randle,  Bruce,  Lee,  Roszel,  Reed,  McCloskey,  Ware. 
These  men  were  not  of  uncreative  minds,  but  were  great  in 
intellect,  statesmen  in  ability,  and  true  to  convictions. 

The  committee  presented  a  report  providing  for  a  delegated 
Mode  of  eiec-  General  Conference,  the  delegates  to  be  chosen  by 
tion-  ballot  by  each  Annual  Conference,  at  the  ratio  of 

seven  elders  for  each  Conference,  and  one  for  every  additional 
ten  members  of  the  Conference  above  fifty ;  the  General 
Conference  to  meet  on  May  1,  1812,  and  every  four  years 
thenceforward  on  the  first  day  of  May  perpetually,  at  place 
determined ;  two  thirds  of  the  delegates  to  form  a  quorum ;  a 
bishop  to  preside.  The  powers  of  the  General  Conference  were 
to  be  limited  by  what  are  now  known  as  the  "  Restrictive 
Rules."    This  report  was  discussed  for  a  session,  when  it  was 

*  General  Conference  Journals,  vol.  i,  pp.  7G-78. 


METEIODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


79 


postponed  to  consider  the  question  of  the  election  of  presiding 
elders,  which  had  been  brought  up  by  Ezekiel  Cooper  and 
Joshua  Wells.  The  proposition  to  elect  presiding  elders  was 
lost  by  a  vote  of  fifty-two  to  seventy-three. 

The  vote  was  then  taken  to  constitute  a  delegated  General  Con- 
ference.   It  was  lost,  the  vote  standing  fifty-seven 

•  •  mi  11.  Lost  at  first. 

for  and  sixty-iour  against.  The  result  was  dispirit- 
ing to  the  more  distant  Conferences,  for  the  votes  of  Baltimore 
and  Philadelphia  Conferences  were  the  ones  which  defeated  the 
measure.  The  New  England  members  asked  leave  of  absence, 
as  did  also  most  of  the  western  members.  They  urged  that 
their  presence  was  wholly  useless  in  the  General  Conference. 
Matters  were  in  a  desperate  condition.  Asbury  and  McKen- 
dree  mourned  over  the  sad  state  of  affairs,  knowing  well  the 
spirit  of  the  Conferences  whose  members  demanded  a  delegated 
General  Conference.  In  a  private  interview  with  those  who 
had  retired,  and  with  members  of  other  Conferences,  they 
so  presented  the  condition  of  affairs  that  many  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Conferences  agreed 
to  vote  for  the  plan  of  a  delegated  Conference  if  these  breth- 
ren would  remain.  The  next  day  they  appeared  in  their 
places.  On  Monday,  May  23,  the  order  was  made  Ratloof  rep_ 
by  a  large  majority  that  "  the  General  Conference  reservation, 
shall  be  composed  of  one  member  for  every  five  members  of  each 
Annual  Conference."  It  was  also  voted  that  these  delegates 
might  be  selected  "either  by  seniority  or  choice."  This  prac- 
tically settled  the  fact  of  a  "  delegated  General  Conference," 
wherein  a  small  and  distant  Conference  should  have  its  pro- 
portionate influence  in  the  councils  of  the  Church. 

Another  difficult  matter  wras  to  so  arrange  legislative  action 
that  there  should  be  a  proper  check  to  hasty  legis-  Check  t0  leg_ 
lation.  Men  like  George,  Koszel,  Pickering,  Lee,  teiation. 
and  Burke  were  competent  to  the  task.  It  was  determined 
that  two  thirds  of  the  representatives  of  all  the  Annual  Confer- 
ences should  form  a  quorum  for  business  in  the  General  Confer- 
ence, and  that  one  of  the  bishops  should  preside,  but  if  no  bishop 
were  present  the  Conference  should  elect  a  president  pro  tern. 


80 


MANUAL  OF 


To  the  General  Conference  was  given  power  to  legislate  under 
six  restrict-  six  definite  restrictions.  These  are  the  well-known 
ive  rules.  «  Restrictive  Rules  "  of  the  Discipline.  It  was  then 
ordered  that  the  next  General  Conference  he  held  at  New  York, 
May  1,  1812,  and  every  four  years  thereafter  perpetually,  at 
such  place  as  the  majority  should  determine. 

Ezekiel  Cooper,  editor  and  general  book  steward,  presented 
Book  stew-  an  elaborate  report  of  the  Book  Concern.  In  1799, 
ard's  report  w]ien  }ie  took  charge,  it  was  with  a  capital  of 
$4,000,  but  with  debts  amounting  to  83,000.  In  1808  he 
turned  over  to  the  General  Conference  a  Book  Concern  worth 
$45,000,  and  no  debt.  With  this  report  he  tendered  his  resig- 
nation and  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

John  Wilson,  who  had  for  four  years  been  an  assistant  to 
Cooper,  was  elected  book  steward,  with  a  salary  of  8750  a  year, 
and  Daniel  Hitt  was  elected  assistant.  The  Conference  voted 
to  Cooper  $1,000  by  way  of  extra  compensation  for  the  past 
five  years. 

At  this  Conference  a  motion  prevailed  to  print  an  edition  of 
one  thousand  copies  of  the  Discipline  for  use  in  the 

Expurgated  1  1 

edition  of  the  South  Carolina  Conference,  "  in  which  the  section 
Discipline.  oS  g]averv  ^Q  ]ef£  0ll^"    ^n  effort  was 

made,  but  without  success,  to  strike  out  the  first  two  paragraphs 
of  the  section  on  slavery  in  the  Discipline,  but  the  General 
Conference  authorized  each  Annual  Conference  to  "form  their 
own  regulations  relative  to  buying  and  selling  slaves." 

The  bishops  were  permitted  to  ordain  local  preachers  to  the 
office  of  deacon  on  passing  a  required  examination, 

Ordination  of  1  a  1 

local  preach-   election  by  an  Annual  Conference,  and  a  testimonial, 
after  proper  examination,  from  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference of  which  the  local  preacher  is  a  member,  signed  by  the 
president  and  secretary. 

For  raising  supplies  each  Annual  Conference  was  left  at  full 
Raising  of  liberty  to  adopt  and  recommend  such  plan  as  might 
supplies.  ]je  |ieemed  advisable.  But  in  ca.ies  where  allowances 
to  preachers  were  not  paid  in  full  the  deficiencies  were  not  to 
be  accounted  as  a  debt.    The  preacher  must  sustain  the  loss. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


81 


The  General  Conference  adjourned  May  20,  1808,  and  the 
names  of  Francis  Asbury  and  William  McKendree  were  at- 
tached to  the  records  as  bishops  presiding,  but  Bishop  Coke's 
name  did  not  appear.  This  quadrennium  closed  with  144,500 
members  and  516  preachers. 

Bishops  Asbury  and  McKendree  went  out  to  a  united 
Church  under  circumstances  of  great  encouragement.  Travels  of  the 
Asbury  realized  that  in  McKendree  he  had  a  faith-  bisb()I>s- 
ful,  zealous,  courageous  work-fellow,  who  was  fully  able  and 
willing  to  take  his  part  of  the  burden  and  responsibility  of  the 
Church.  Said  Asbury :  "  The  burden  is  now  borne  by  two 
pairs  of  shoulders  instead  of  one,  the  care  is  cast  upon  two 
hearts  and  heads.-'  They  traveled  together  the  first  year. 
Though  McKendree  had  large  experience  as  a  presiding  elder, 
especially  in  the  Western  Conference,  still  Asbury  thought  it 
best  for  them  to  travel  together,  as  the  so-doing  gave  them 
opportunity  for  maturing  plans  for  extending  the  work.  They 
passed  through  several  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  and  then  over 
the  mountains  into  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi.  Here  McKen- 
dree was  at  home.  His  influence  as  a  presiding  elder  had  been 
great,  but  now  as  bishop  his  word  was  with  power,  and  his 
very  presence  an  influence.  They  visited  many  camp-meet- 
ings, exhorting,  preaching,  comforting,  and  strengthening  the 
people.  What  a  wonderful  year  that  was  for  McKendree,  to 
travel  from  Georgia  up  the  entire  Atlantic  States  to  Maine,  into 
Vermont,  through  New  York,  west  by  the  lakes,  down  the 
Ohio,  through  Indiana,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee  to  the  Cum- 
berland, "ascending  the  hills  and  crossing  the  intervening 
valleys,  lodging  sometimes  in  log-huts  and  not  infrequently  in 
the  wroods,  attending  the  Conferences,  preaching  almost  every 
day,  receiving  visitors,  writing  letters,  and  hearing  the  griev- 
ances of  discontented  individuals  !  "  Such  an  experience  was 
worth  much  to  McKendree,  and  still  more  to  the  Church. 

There  followed  some  gracious  revivals,  especially  in  the 

West.    Some  notable  persons  were  converted  and 

united  with  Methodism.    Others  came  in  who  grew 

to  be  persons  of  great  prominence  as  the  years  went  by.  In 
7 


-2 


MANUAL  OF 


Richmond,  Ya.,  in  New  York  city,  in  various  places  of  New 
England,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  Church  sweeping  revivals 
occurred. 

In  1810  the  Church  had  so  extended  in  western  New  York 
Genesee  con-  tna^  tne  bishops  formed  anew  Conference,  calling 
ference.  it  the  Genesee  Conference.  In  1810  Asbury  and 
McKendree  held  the  Western  Conference  in  Cincinnati,  com- 
mencing on  Thursday,  November  1.  The  Indiana  District, 
formed  the  previous  year,  had  grown  into  numbers  not  antici- 
pated. 

John  Strange  commenced  to  preach  in  1811.  A  wonderful 
Notice  of  and  eloquent  preacher,  he  traveled  in  the  greatest 
j.  strange.  peril  from  Indians,  often  carrying  his  rifle  from  one 
appointment  to  another.    He  died  at  Indianapolis  in  1832. 

Bishop  Asbury  visited  Canada  in  1811,  crossing  the  St.  Law- 
.Asbury  in  rence  about  the  1st  of  July  at  St.  Regis,  and 
Canada.  stopped  at  Evan  Hoy's,  in  Cornwall,  where  one  of 
the  oldest  Methodist  societies  in  the  province  was  located.  On 
landing  in  Canada  Asbury  wrote:  "My  strong  affection  for 
the  people  of  the  United  States  came  with  strange  power  upon 
me  when  I  was  crossing  the  line.  .  .  .  Why  should  I  have  such 
new  feelings  in  Canada?*'  Possibly  they  were  caused  by  a 
retrospect  of  the  growth  and  changes  of  Methodism  since  he 
landed  in  America,  whither  he  had  been  sent  by  Wesley  to  the 
few  Methodists  in  this  wild  country.  On  he  went  to  Kingston, 
preaching  the  word  and  cheering  the  Church.  He  crossed  the 
eastern  end  of  Lake  Ontario  from  Kingston  to  Sackett's  Har- 
bor in  an  open  boat,  greatly  to  his  discomfort,  but  all  was 
forgotten  when  he  met  Bishop  McKendree  at  Paris,  Oneida 
County,  X.  Y.,  to  hold  the  Genesee  Conference. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  S3 


PERIOD  III. 

CONTROVERSY  AND  DIVISIONS.  1812-1848. 


chapter  xii. 

FIRST  DELEGATED  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Methodism  is  just  entering  the  period  of  permanency  and  ad- 
vance in  a  "  delegated  General  Conference."  It  was  to  go  into 
history  as  the  seventh  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  America  and  the  first  delegated  General 
Conference.  It  convened  in  John  Street  Church,  New  York 
city,  May  1,  1812.  The  two  bishops,  Asbury  and  McKendree, 
were  present.  Bishop  Coke  had  not  been  asked  to  return. 
Asbury  opened  the  Conference.  There  were  13  delegates 
from  the  New  York  Conference,  9  from  the  New  England, 
6  from  the  Genesee,  13  from  the  Western,  9  from  the  South 
Carolina,  11  from  the  Virginia,  15  from  the  Baltimore,  and  14 
from  the  Philadelphia,  or  90  in  all.  Daniel  Hitt  was  elected 
secretary. 

This  being  a  delegated  body  it  became  necessary  to  adopt 
new  rules  for  its  government.  Business  proceeded  harmoni- 
ously, and  the  following  was  the  result : 

1.  The  question  of  the  rights  of  reserve  delegates  was  settled. 
The  New  England  Conference  elected  three  dele-     -  _  a 

&  #  Rights  of  re- 

gates  more  than  were  necessary,  so  that  in  case  any    serve  deie- 

died  or  were  prevented  from  attending  another  gates' 
would  be  ready  to  go  and  be  there  legally.  Two  of  the  first 
delegates  could  not  attend,  and  two  of  the  three  extra  ones 
attended.  They  demanded  admission.  After  a  careful  exami- 
nation of  the  principles  involved  it  was  decided  that  they  were 
entitled  to  sit  in  the  places  of  the  absent  ones.  Thereby  was 
settled  the  question  for  a  century,  and  probably  longer. 


84: 


MANUAL  OF 


2.  Bishop  McKendree,  as  a  bishop,  presented  to  the  General 
Bishop's  ad-  Conference  an  address,  which  was  read.  This  was 
dress.  the  first  time  a  bishop  had  presented  an  address,  or 

pointed  out  what  in  his  judgment  ought  to  come  before  the 
General  Conference.  The  reason  for  doing  this  now  was  that 
heretofore  the  bishops  were  members  of  the  body,  with  a  right 
to  present  motions  and  resolutions,  and  advocate  any  point  just 
as  might  any  of  the  members  ;  but  under  the  new  rule  the 
bishops  were  only  presiding  officers,  and  there  was  no  other 
way  to  bring  their  advices  before  the  General  Conference. 
The  address  *  was  a  calm  and  dispassionate  presentation  of  the 
bishop's  views  regarding  the  needs  of  the  Church  for  greater 
efficiency,  a  clear  review  of  the  Church's  work  during  the  past 
four  years,  and  an  earnest  exhortation  to  greater  work  in  the 
years  to  come. 

In  the  address  Bishop  McKendree  asserted  a  principle  of 
Bishop  a  serv-  the  utmost  importance  to  the  full  meaning  of  the 
ant  of  the  relation  of  a  bishop  to  the  Church,  namely,  that  he 
is  a  servant  of  the  Conference,  and  as  such  his  acts 
are  subject  to  a  careful  review  by  that  body.  Ik  is  found  in 
the  following  paragraph : 

"  Before  I  conclude,  permit  me,  my  dear  brethren,  to  express 
a  few  thoughts  concerning  the  views  I  have  of  the  relation  in 
which  I  stand  connected  with  this  body.  It  is  only  by  virtue 
of  a  delegated  power  from  the  General  Conference  that  I  hold 
the  reins  of  government.  I  consider  myself  bound,  by  virtue 
of  the  same  authority,  to  exercise  discipline  in  perfect  con- 
formity to  the  rules  of  the  Church  to  the  best  of  my  ability 
and  judgment.  I  consider  myself  justly  accountable,  not  for 
the  system  of  government,  but  for  my  administration,  and 
ought,  therefore,  to  be  ready  to  answer  in  General  Conference 
for  past  conduct,  and  be  willing  to  receive  information  and  ad- 
vice, to  perfect  future  operations." 

This  address  of  Bishop  McKendree  was  referred  to  proper 
committees,  which  from  this  time  took  the  order  of  standing 
committees. 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  308-312. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  85 


1.  Three  days  after  this  address  Bishop  Asbury  addressed 
the  Conference  orally,  reviewing  the  history  and    Asbury.s  ad 
growth  of  Methodism.    No  man  was  more  compe-  dress, 
tent  to  the  task. 

2.  The  Book  Concern  affairs  were  referred  to  a  committee. 
John  Wilson,  the  book  steward,  had  deceased  dur- 
ing the  quadrennium,  and  Daniel  Hitt,  the  assistant,  Cem. 
had  carried  on  the  enterprise. 

The  republication  of  the  Methodist  Magazine  was  ordered, 
the  volume  to  commence  January  1,  1813,  to  be  Methodist 
reckoned  as  the  third.  An  attempt  was  made,  but  Magazine, 
failed,  to  remove  the  Book  Concern  to  Baltimore.  Daniel 
Hitt  was  elected  editor  and  general  book  steward,  and  Thomas 
Ware  assistant  book  steward. 

3.  Bishop  McKendree  introduced  the  special  call  for  memo- 
rials and  petitions  from  the  Annual  Conferences,    _  „  f 

£  >     Call  for  me- 

and  their  reference  to  proper  committees.     His   moriais  intro- 
mind  grasped  almost  intuitively  wdiat  was  the  best         '  v 
method  for  facilitating  business. 

4.  The  Conferences  were,  New  England,  New  York,  Gene- 
see, Ohio,  Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Bal-  Nine  confer- 
timore,  and  Philadelphia.  ences- 

5.  The  General  Conference  provided  that  a  local  deacon 
should  be  eligible  to  the  office  of  an  elder  when  he 

°  Local  deacon 

had  preached  four  years  as  a  deacon  and  was  recom-  eligible  to  eid- 
mended  by  two  thirds  of  the  Quarterly  Conference  er'sorders- 
where  he  was  a  member,  he  receiving  a  testimonial  certifying 
his  qualifications  in  doctrine  and  discipline,  talents  and  useful- 
ness, and  that  his  services  are  needed  in  that  official  capacity. 
But  "  no  slave-holder,"  the  law  said,  "  shall  be  eligible  to  the 
office  of  a  local  elder  in  any  State  or  Territory  where  the  civil 
laws  will  admit  emancipation  and  suffer  the  liberated  slave  to 
enjoy  his  freedom." 

6.  The  question  of  the  election  of  presiding  elders  by  the  Con- 
ferences was  brought  up  on  a  motion  by  Laban  Clark.  Election  of 
It  was  thoroughly  discussed  for  nearly  a  day,  and  gldersgldinff 
then  the  Conference  adjourned  without  a  decision. 


so 


MANUAL  OF 


7.  An  address,  the  first  of  its  kind,  was  sent  out  to  the 
pastoral  ad-  Church  by  the  General  Conference,*  which  tended 
dres8,  to  infuse  spiritual  life  into  all  true  Methodists. 

8.  Bishop  Coke  was  appareptly  left  in  the  same  relation  to 
Relation  of  the  Conference  which  he  had  sustained  during  the 
coke.  previous  four  years. 

After  a  session  of  nineteen  days  the  General  Conference  ad- 
journed May  22. 

The  Church  had  a  membership  of  195,357,  and  of  preachers 
688.  At  this  time  there  was  no  means  of  knowing  the  number 
of  local  preachers  in  the  Church,  but  according  to  McKendree 
they  amounted  to  2,000,  and  the  majority  of  these  were  preach- 
ing whenever  opportunity  offered. 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Mtthodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  325-330. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  87 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

METHODISM  DURING  THE  WAR  OF  1812,  AND  CONFERENCE  OF  1816. 

The  Church,  from  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1812,  was  for  two  years  to  suffer  greatly,  not  on  account 
of  any  disturbance  within  itself,  but  on  account  of  the  war 
with  England.  But  out  of  that  conflict  she  emerged  stronger 
than  ever,  because  she  had  been  constantly  true  to  herself  and 
her  avowed  principles.  Along  the  line  between  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  along  the  sea-coast,  the  war  occasioned 
serious  disturbances,  so  that  but  little  there  could  be  done 
toward  religious  progress ;  but  in  the  middle  and  southern 
States  there  were  extensive  revivals  of  religion,  even  when  the 
war  was  most  severe. 

In  1813  Pliny  Brett,  of  the  New  England  Conference,  lo- 
cated. He  was  a  disturber  of  the  peace  of  the  Church.  Brett  a  dis. 
After  locating  he  withdrew  from  the  Church  and  ^re- 
organized a  party  who  called  themselves  "Reformed  Method- 
ists." He  commenced  his  operations  in  Cape  Cod  Society,  and 
drew  away  from  the  surrounding  societies  a  number  of  local 
preachers  and  several  members,  so  that  some  small  societies 
were  nearly  broken  up.    This  caused  great  uneasiness. 

He  went  into  Vermont,  and  was  joined  by  a  local  preacher 
by  the  name  of  Baily.  "  They  succeeded  in  raising  up  a  con- 
siderable party,  which  for  a  short  season  made  some  inroads 
upon  our  Church."  Yet  for  want  of  unity  of  action  and  that 
amount  of  piety  and  talent  necessary  to  command  public  con- 
fidence they  gradually  declined  in  influence ;  and,  being  appar- 
ently more  anxious  to  reform  Methodism  than  to  turn  sinners 
from  the  error  of  their  ways,  they  finally  sank  into  obscurity, 
and  have  long  since  ceased  to  exist  as  a  distinct  denomination. 

During  the  war  a  question  arose  as  to  the  duty  of  minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  to  pray  for  the  country  and  their  rulers. 


88 


MANUAL  OF 


The  matter  was  discussed  extensively.  The  people  who  were 
Duty  of  mm-  opposed  to  the  war  and  in  favor  of  Great  Britain 
forerthe°coun-  found  fault  with  the  ministers  who  prayed  for  the 
try-  success  of  the  country.    This  led  Bishop  Asbury, 

who  had  fully  adopted  the  United  States  as  his  country,  and 
"  most  cordially  loved  its  institutions,"  to  declare,  "  plainly 
and  pointedly,  on  the  floor  of  an  Annual  Conference,  that  he 
who  refused,  at  this  time  especially,  to  pray  for  his  country 
deserved  not  the  name  of  a  Christian  or  a  Christian  minister, 
inasmuch  as  it  was  specifically  enjoined  on  all  such  not  only  to 
honor  magistrates,  but  to  'pray  for  all  that  are  in  authority, 
that  we  may  lead  quiet  and  peaceable  lives  in  all  godliness  and 
honesty.'  "  * 

Bishop  Asbury  was  very  desirous  that  a  true  history  of 
History  of  Methodism  in  America  should  be  written  and  pub- 
Methodism.  ijg}ie<i  jn  isio  Jesse  Lee  published  a  work  of  this 
sort,  and  thereby  gained  the  honorable  title  of  "first  historian 
of  American  Methodism."  His  work  was  defective  in  style  and 
order,  but  was  excellent  in  preserving  dates  and  facts.  While 
not  an  impartial  historian  he  was  animated,  and  his  pages  glow 
with  his  own  invincible  force.  He  was  especially  good  regard- 
ing New  England  Methodism,  for  he  was  the  cen- 
Lees  History,  figure  in  its  planting  and  growth.  His  delinea- 
tion of  Asbury  could  not  be  otherwise  than  good,  since  he  was 
for  a  time  his  traveling  companion,  and  in  a  number  of  instances 
held  the  Conferences  for  him. 

During  1814  Methodism,  in  common  with  the  country,  suf- 
war  hindered  fered  most  from  the  war.  The  burning  of  Wash- 
rehgion.  ington  and  the  attack  upon  Baltimore  were  inten- 
sified by  the  threatening  of  New  York  and  Boston  by  the  English 
forces.  As  is  usual,  the  one  thought  of  repelling  an  invading 
foe  took  possession  of  every  mind,  so  that  "for  a  season,"  says 
Bangs,  "the  spirit  of  religion  seemed  to  be  absorbed  in  the 
feeling  of  patriotism,  and  the  war-whoop  took  the  place  of 
thanksgiving  and  prayer  to  God."  But  the  preachers  did  the 
best  they  "could  in  keeping  together  the  smitten  flocks,  and  in 

*  Banks's  History  of  the  Mttltodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  356. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


89 


many  places  revivals  occurred.  Many  found  "  the  pearl  of 
great  price,"  and  rejoiced  in  a  Saviour's  love,  and  in  spite 
of  war,  confusion,  and  sin  the  Church  made  some  advance. 

The  deatli  of  Bishop  Coke  occurred  about  midnight  of 
May  2,  1814,  while  on  his  way  to  plant  a  mission  in  Death  of 
Ceylon  and  India.  The  ship  was  at  the  time  in  the  Coke- 
Indian  Ocean.  From  the  time  the  General  Conference  re- 
leased him,  in  1808,  from  all  obligations  to  the  Church  in 
America  he  devoted  his  time,  talents,  and  property  chiefly 
to  the  cause  of  missions.  Having  had  his  attention  called  to 
the  spiritual  destitution  of  the  British  possessions  in  India,  he 
determined  to  go  there  and  seek  their  moral  elevation.  He 
made  the  proper  arrangements,  offering  to  furnish  out  of  his 
own  means  $30,000  to  meet  the  expenses;  on  December  30, 
1813,  he  bade  adieu  to  friends,  and  on  January  1,  1814,  in  com- 
pany with  six  missionaries  and  two  of  their  wives,  sailed  from 
Portsmouth.  Bishop  Coke  appeared  to  be  in  excellent  health  ; 
he  spent  his  time  in  reading,  writing,  conversation  on  spiritual 
matters,  and  preparations  to  print  the  Scriptures  in  the  Portu- 
guese. At  night,  May  2,  he  complained  of  slight  indisposition, 
but  retired  as  usual.  In  the  morning  the  servant  found  the 
body  of  Bishop  Coke  "stretched  lifeless  upon  the  floor." 
From  its  "stiff  and  cold  condition"  it  was  supposed  he  had 
been  dead  for  some  hours,  and  that  he  had  died  of  apoplexy. 
His  body  was,  "  with  suitable  religious  ceremonies,"  buried  in 
the  Indian  Ocean.  Coke  was  in  his  sixty-seventh  year,  had 
been  married  twice,  was  an  eminent  scholar,  was  made  a  doctor 
of  laws  by  Oxford,  wrote  and  published  much,  preached 
almost  as  often  as  Wesley,  traveled  extensively,  was  ordained 
bishop  in  1784,  and  after  Wesley's  death  wisely  managed  every 
interest  of  the  Irish  and  British  Conferences.  Bishop  Asbury, 
in  his  funeral  sermon,  said  of  him:  "He  was  of  the  third 
branch  of  the  Oxonian  Methodists,  of  blessed  mind  and  soul, 
a  gentleman,  a  scholar,  and  a  bishop  to  us.  As  a  minister  of 
Christ,  in  zeal,  in  labors,  and  in  services  the  greatest  man  of  the 
last  century."  * 

*Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  380. 


90 


MANUAL  OF 


After  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Conference  in  1812 
Bishop  Asbury  could  do  but  little  in  the  way  of  travel- 
infirmity  of  ing  and  holding  Conferences.  The  once  strong 
Asbury.  man  wag  now  bowing  low,  not  so  much  with  age 
as  from  the  excessive  labors  of  the  past  and  the  oft-repeated 
exposures  to  hardship.  As  a  result  nearly  all  the  care  of  the 
churches  devolved  upon  Bishop  McKendree.  It  seemed  as  if 
the  mantle  of  Asbury  had  fallen  upon  him,  and  a  double  por- 
tion of  strength  was  given  to  perforin  the  work  now  devolving 
upon  him.  McKendree  traveled  extensively  each  year,  visited 
camp-meetings,  preached  and  exhorted  often,  and  held  the  Con- 
ferences and  stationed  the  preachers  with  great  acceptability. 
During  the  war,  in  some  portions  of  the  West  and  South-west, 
McKendree  was  in  danger  from  savage  Indians. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  heroism  of  that  day  this  will  serve. 

In  1814  Rev.  Richmond  Xolley  was  sent  to  Attaka- 

A  hero.  t  .    '  , 

pas  Circuit,  Louisiana.  He  labored  amid  great  diffi- 
culties, hunting  up  the  pioneer  families  and  preaching  to  them 
life  and  salvation.  It  became  necessary  for  him  to  visit  some 
distant  appointments.  In  order  to  reach  them  lie  must  ford  a 
stream  much  swollen.  "Leaving  his  saddle-bags,  valise,  and 
some  books  with  his  Indian  guide,  he  mounted  his  horse  and 
attempted  to  ride  through  the  creek.  The  current  bore  his 
horse  down  below  the  usual  place  of  landing,  so  that  when  they 
arrived  at  the  other  side  the  bank  was  so  precipitous  that  the 
horse  could  not  ascend  it,  and  in  the  struggle  he  and  his  horse 
were  separated,  the  horse  swimming  back  to  the  shore  lie  had 
left  and  Xolley  landing  on  the  opposite  bank.  He  then  walked 
on  with  a  view  to  reach  the  first  house,  which  was  about  two 
miles  distant.  The  wet  and  cold,  however,  so  prostrated  his 
physical  strength  that  he  was  able  to  proceed  only  about  one 
mile,  where  he  was  found  next  morning  a  lifeless  corpse."  * 

Bishop  Asbury,  in  extreme  feebleness,  reached  the  house  of 
Death  of  his  old  friend  George  Arnold,  in  Sputtsylvania,  Ya., 
Asbury.  March  29,  1816,  where  he  spent  a  restless  night. 
In  the  morning  his  friends  desired  to  call  a  physician,  but  he 

*  Bangs's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  p.  390. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  91 


told  them  it  was  useless,  his  end  was  nigh.  The  next  day, 
Sabbath,  he  asked  his  traveling  companion,  Rev.  John  W.  Bond, 
and  the  family  to  come  into  the  room.  Bond  sang,  prayed, 
and  expounded  the  twenty-first  chapter  of  Revelation.  After 
this  Asbury  sank  rapidly,  and  about  noon,  March  31,  1816, 
aged  seventy,  he  ceased  to  live.    A  great  man  was  dead ! 

Iirs  remains  were  buried  at  Spottsylvania,  but  the  General 
Conference  of  1816  had  them  disinterred,  taken  to  Baltimore, 
and  placed  under  the  recess  of  the  pulpit  of  the  Eutaw  Street 
Church.  At  a  later  date  the  remains  were  placed  in  the  Olivet 
Cemetery,  where  they  now  lie. 

Bishop  Asbury  was  born  August  20,  1745.  He  entered  the 
ministry  when  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  came  to  Amer- 
ica as  a  missionary  in  1771,  was  ordained  a  bishop  in  Balti- 
more, December  27,  1784,  died  at  Spottsylvania,  March  31, 
1816.  The  estimate  placed  upon  Bishop  Asbury  was  very 
great,  but  none  too  great. 

Bishop  Asbury  gave  in  his  Journal  his  reasons  for  never 
marrying.*  They  are  so  weighty  that  the  careful  student  of 
history  may  profitably  read  and  ponder  them. 

The  second  delegated  General  Conference  assembled  in  Bal- 
timore, Wednesday,  May  1,  1816.  Bishop  McKen-  General  con- 
dree,  the  only  living  bishop  of  Methodism,  presided.  ference- 
There  were  delegates  present  from  the  following  Conferences : 
from  New  York,  16 ;  New  England,  12 ;  Genesee,  10 ;  Ohio, 
9;  Tennessee,  6;  South  Carolina,  14 ;  Virginia,  10;  Baltimore, 
14;  Philadelphia,  13 — a  total  of  104.  Lewis  R.  Fechtig  was 
elected  secretary.  Bishop  Asbury  had  prepared  an  address  to 
the  General  Conference,  which  Bishop  McKendree  read.  This 
was  followed  by  his  own  address. 

Following  the  suggestions  of  Bishop  McKendree,  the  Con- 
ference in  an  orderly  way  provided  for  standing  com- 

*  t      J  1  "  Standing 

mittees,  clearly  defining  the  duties  of  each,  such  as  committees 
committees  on  the  State  of  the  Episcopacy,  Book  ordered' 
Concern,  Ways  and  Means,  Review  and  Revision,  Safety,  and 
Temporal  Economy.  The  directions  given  to  these  committees, 

*  Asbury's  Journal,  vol.  iii,  p.  143. 


92 


MANUAL  OF 


by  which  they  were  to  be  governed,  demonstrated  that  a  mind 
was  at  the  head  of  affairs  fully  capable  of  grasping  the  situation, 
discovering  what  was  the  true  course  to  be  pursued,  and  able 
to  direct  in  its  accomplishment. 

The  results  of  the  legislation  of  this  General  Conference  are 
history. 

1.  Enoch  George  and  Robert  Richford  Roberts  were  elected 
New  bishops     bishops.    They  proved  to  be  most  excellent  selec- 
tions. 

2.  The  subject  of  the  election  of  presiding  elders  was  brought 

a   up,  and  parts  of  the  session  were  given  to  its  discus- 
Election  of     /  '         1  m  & 

presiding  eid-  sion.  One  new  thing  in  the  question,  as  now  pro- 
posed, was  that  the  presiding  elders  elected  should 
be  elected  for  four  years,  and  could  only  be  removed  from  office, 
during  that  period,  for  cause.  After  the  fullest  debate  the 
General  Conference  voted  against  it,  leaving  the  appointment 
with  the  bishop. 

3.  The  difficulty  between  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  the  London  Methodist  Missionary  Society  regarding  Canada 
was  adjusted  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  parties.* 

4.  There  was  provision  made  for  the  first  time  for  a  course  of 

study  "  to  be  pursued  bv  candidates  for  the  ministry." 

Course  of  .   .  .  . 

study  pro-  The  presiding  elders  were  to  direct  candidates  to  these 
studies,  and  before  reception  into  full  connection  the 
candidate  was  to  give  "  satisfactory  evidence  respecting  his 
knowledge  of  these  particular  subjects."  The  studies,  at  first, 
were  only  for  two  years ;  but  at  a  later  date  extended  to  four. 

5.  The  capital  of  the  Chartered  Fund  was  shown  to  be 
820,651.56. 

6.  There  were  formed  two  new  Conferences — the  Missouri 
and  the  Mississippi. 

7.  The  bishops'  salaries  were  to  be  met  by  the  Book  Concern. 

8.  For  the  first  time  the  expenses  of  delegates  to  and  from 
Expenses  of  the  General  Conference,  amounting  to  $1,419.75, 
delegates.  were  paid.  Collections  had  been  taken  amounting 
to  $731.39,  and  from  the  Book  Concern  was  paid  $688.36. 

*  General  Conference  Journals,  vol.  i,  pp.  151,  152. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  93 


9.  There  was  an  effort  to  remove  the  Book  Concern  from 

New  York ;  but  the  General  Conference  ordered     Attempt  to 

that  it  remain  at  New  York.    Joshua  Soule  was  [fmovethe 

Book  con- 
elected  editor  and  general  book  steward,  and  Thomas  cern. 

Mason  was  elected  assistant.    It  was  shown  that  the  Concern 

had  a  clear  capital  of  about  $80,000.    It  was  ordered  that  the 

Book  Concern  publish  a  monthly  periodical  to  be  called  The 

Methodist  Missionary  Magazine. 

10.  The  practice  of  renting  pews  having  come  into  vogue 
among  the  New  England  churches,  the  subject  was 

,  ,       ,      ~  i'z-n      *  i         i  Pew-letting. 

canvassed  by  the  General  Conference,  and  resolutions 

of  disapproval  were  passed.    It  was  the  general  desire  that  the 

seats  in  all  Methodist  churches  should  be  free. 

The  membership  of  the  Church  was  214,235,  and  the  number 
of  the  preachers  in  the  itinerancy  695. 

The  General  Conference  adjourned  May  24, 1816.  The  next 
General  Conference  was  again  to  be  held  at  Baltimore,  Md. 

Bishop  McKendree's  health  being  in  a  broken  condition,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  yield  much  of  his  work  to  McKendree 
younger  men,  and  to  retire  somewhat  from  his  for-  resigned 

•>        ft  '  much  of  his 

mer  active  life.  But  Bishops  George  and  Roberts  work, 
were  strong  men,  capable  of  bearing  great  burdens,  and  wisely 
doing  the  work  of  the  Church.  Bishop  Roberts  was  the  first 
married  man  who  had  been  elected  a  bishop  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  settled  his  wife  on  a  farm  which  he 
owned  in  western  Pennsylvania,  but  subsequently  removed  to 
a  farm  in  Lawrence  County,  Ind.  The  bishops  entered  upon 
their  work  and  prosecuted  it  so  successfully  that  it  was  impos- 
sible to  bring  just  criticism  against  them. 

At  this  point  in  Methodist  history  we  enter  a  period  of  un- 
usual activity  in  somewhat  new  lines — the  organiza-  period  of 
tion  of  societies  having  certain  and  definite  lines  of  activity, 
work  laid  down  and  acting  as  great  auxiliaries  to  Christian 
work.  In  the  ministry  were  some  creative  minds,  who  looked 
out  upon  the  world  and  saw  the  forces  that  might  be  utilized 
for  human  salvation.  Among  them  were  Nathan  Bangs,  Elijah 
Hedding,  Joshua  Soule,  Martin  Ruter  (the  first  man  in  Amer- 


MANUAL  OF 


ican  Methodism  to  be  honored  with  the  title  of  D.D.),  John 

Emory,  Wilbur  Fisk,  Laban  Clark,  besides  many  others.  These 

men  organized  great  connectional  societies,  which  have  been 

blessings  to  the  Church  and  to  the  world. 

The  educational  enterprise  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

was  taken  up  anew  about  1818,  when  some  "Method- 
Education.    .       .  .  .  _. _.  . 

ist  ministers  ot  JNew  England    established  a  seminary 

at  New  Market,  N.  II.     Rev.  Martin  Euter,  D.D.,  was  the 

successful  principal.    It  was  established  "  for  young  men  who 

designed  to  enter  the  ministry,"  though  it  also  received  other 

students.     This  seminary  was  removed  to  Wilbraham,  Mass., 

and  incorporated  in  1821.    Wilbur  Fisk,  D.D.,  was  its  first 

president.   A  line  of  successors,  among  Methodism's  great  men, 

have  there  aided  in  the  education  of  over  eighteen  thousand 

students. 

In  1819  Nathan  Bangs  was  instrumental  in  opening  a  school 
in  New  York  city,  but  afterward  it  was  removed  to  "White 
Plains,  1ST.  Y.  These  schools  did  not  propose  more  than  a  sem- 
inary education  ;  but  they  were  fine  stepping-stones  to  higher 
schools  which  have  since  been  established  in  Methodism  and 
blessed  the  race. 

The  origin  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
Missionary  copal  Church  was  unique.  One  Sabbath  in  1816 
society.  Rev.  Marcus  Lindsey  was  preaching  in  Marietta,  O. 
In  the  audience  was  one  John  Stewart,  "an  inebriate  colored 
man."  The  preaching  was  to  the  point,  and  the  Holy  Spirit 
sent  it  home  to  his  heart  in  conviction  which  led  to  sound  con- 
version. He  was  moved  by  the  same  Spirit  to  preach  the  Gos- 
pel. He  was  led  to  go  to  the  North-west  through  the  forests, 
and  landed  among  the  Wyandot  Indians.  Here  he  found  a 
fugitive  slave,  Jonathan  Pointer,  from  Kentucky,  a  backslidden 
Methodist.  Said  Stewart,  "  To-morrow  I  must  preach  to  these 
Indians,  and  you  must  interpret."  Pointer  now  realized  his 
spiritual  backsliding.  A  night  of  agony  and  prayer  was  spent. 
In  the  morning  he  faithfully  interpreted  Stewart's  sermons 
to  his  congregation  of  one  squaw.  His  next  congregation 
consisted  of  two,  an  old  man  and  a  squaw.    On  Sunday  eight 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  95 


or  ten  attended.  Soon  crowds  came.  Stewart  faithfully 
preached  the  word,  and  souls  were  convicted  and  converted, 
among  them  a  captive  white  boy,  Robert  Armstrong,  and  four 
chiefs — Between-the-Logs,  Mononcue,  Hicks,  and  Scnteash. 
This  news  went  out  to  the  East.  Christian  hearts  were 
stirred.  Much  was  done  by  individuals.  In  the  early  part  of 
1819  Gabriel  P.  Disosway,  a  young  dry-goods  merchant  of 
New  York  and  a  member  of  the  John  Street  Church,  was  so 
moved  by  the  seeming  necessity  for  some  action  that  he  went 
to  Dr.  Bangs  and  pleaded  "  for  the  immediate  organization 
of  a  missionary  society,  such  as  other  denominations  had 
formed." 

Dr.  Bangs  and  Joshua  Soule  took  the  matter  into  considera- 
tion, and  decided  that  such  an  organization  must  be  under  the 
control  of  the  General  Conference.  Some  local  missionary  soci- 
eties were  already  formed.  In  1818  Laban  Clark,  in  a  meeting 
of  the  Methodist  preachers  in  New  York  city,  moved  "for  the 
organization  of  a  Bible  and  Missionary  Society  for  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church."  There  were  present  nine  preachers. 
They  determined,  after  a  full  discussion,  to  organize,  and  Laban 
Clark,  Nathan  Bangs,  and  Freeborn  Garrettson  were  appointed 
to  draft  a  constitution.  When  all  was  ready  a  meeting  was 
called  at  the  Forsyth  Street  Church  April  5,  1819.  Then  and 
there  the  society  took  a  permanent  form. 

Bishop  William  McKendree,  President. 

Bishop  Enoch  George,  First  Yice-President. 

Bishop  Robert  P.  Poberts,  Second  Yice-President. 

Pev.  Nathan  Bangs,  Third  Yice-President. 

Mr.  Francis  Hall,  Clerk. 

Mr.  Daniel  Ayres,  Recording  Secretary. 

Eev.  Thomas  Mason,  Corresponding  Secretary. 

Pev.  Joshua  Soule,  Treasurer. 

The  managers  were  laymen  in  and  around  New  York,  who 
generally  entered  heartily  into  the  enterprise  and' gave  it  full 
and  material  support.  It  had,  first  of  all,  to  overcome  many 
objections  raised  to  its  existence,  and  to  educate  the  Church 
as  a  whole  to  the  fact  that  it  was  God's  design  that  the  Church 


96 


MANUAL  OF 


should  employ  all  lawful  means,  and  go  out  to  all  the  world,  to 
bring  sinners  to  Christ. 

The  bishops  entered  into  this  society  heartily.  The  Balti- 
more, Virginia,  and  Genesee  Conferences  fell  in  line  with  the 
society.  Several  auxiliary  societies  were  formed,  and  the  finan- 
cial result  of  the  first  year  was  $823.64.  The  first  anniversary 
was  held  in  John  Street  Church,  New  York,  April  17,  1820, 
Nathan  Bangs  presiding  and  delivering  an  address. 

At  the  General  Conference,  May,  1820,  the  society  was 
society  adopted  as  a  part  of  the  economy  of  Methodism, 
adopted.  ^  an(j  was  located  at  New  York,  in  close  relation  to 
the  Book  Concern,  so  that  the  book  steward  might  serve  the 
society  as  its  treasurer.* 

For  two  or  three  years  a  preacher  of  the  New  York  Confer- 
ence, William  M.  Stilwell,  had  been  restless,  censorious,  and 
fault-finding  with  the  economy  of  the  Church.  He  inclined  to 
Congregationalism  in  church  government,  and  embraced  the 
first  favorable  opportunity  that  presented  itself  to  secede  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  When  the  New  York  Con- 
ference moved  in  the  matter  of  better  security  for  church  prop- 
erty he  seized  upon  the  movement  as  opportune  for  his  pur- 
pose. He  appealed  to  the  membership  of  his  own  and  other 
societies,  charging  that  the  ministers  were  seeking  to  gain  con- 
trol of  all  church  property.  He  induced  about  three  hundred 
members  to  secede  with  him.  Some  local  preachers  also  went 
with  him.  He  used  every  effort  to  extend  the  secession,  but 
only  a  few  societies  were  induced  to  follow  his  example ;  among 
those  who  did  so  was  a  colored  church  of  about  a  thousand 
members. 

Stilwell  organized  his  followers  into  an  independent  or  con- 
gregational body.  They  were  called  Stilwellites.  But  the  bet- 
ter class  among  them  soon  became  dissatisfied  with  the  move- 
ments of  Stilwell  and  returned  to  the  old  Church.  A  large 
number  were  received  back  by  Rev.  Samuel  Merwin,  preacher 
in  charge  of  the  churches  in  New  York.    A  few  remained  and 

*  Reid's  Missions  and  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  i, 
pp.  14-25. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


97 


continued  to  be  known  as  the  "  Stilwellite  Methodists,"  an 
"anomalous  sect,"  who  dwindled  until  they  wholly  disap- 
peared from  public  notice,  and  now  are  gone  from  the  memory 
of  living  Methodists.* 

Notwithstanding  the  above-noticed  secessions  the  quadren- 
nium  closed  with  a  handsome  increase  in  membership.  The 
members  and  probationers  numbered  259,890,  and  preach- 
ers, 904. 

*  Stevens's  Life  and  Times  of  Nathan  Bangs,  pp.  234,  235. 

8 


98 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XIY. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1820,  AND  ITS  WORK. 

The  third  delegated  General  Conference  assembled  in  Eutaw 
Street  Church,  Baltimore,  May  1,  1820.  Bishop  McKendree, 
though  in  ill  health,  took  the  chair  and  presided  during  the 
religious  services,  after  which  Bishop  George  presided.  There 
were  delegates  from  New  York  Conference,  13  ;  New  England, 
10;  Genesee,  7;  Ohio,  8;  Missouri,  3;  Mississippi,  2;  Ten- 
nessee, 6;  South  Carolina,  9;  Yirginia,  8;  Baltimore,  9;  Phil- 
adelphia, 14 — 89  in  all. 

Rev.  Alexander  McCaine  was  elected  secretary.  The  address 
of  Bishop  McKendree  was  presented  and  read  in  his  absence. 
Bishop  George  addressed  the  Conference  regarding  the  work  in 
Canada,  as  did  Bishop  Roberts  on  parts  of  the  Discipline  and 
economy  of  the  Church.  Among  prominent  acts  of  the  Con- 
ference were : 

Bishop  1-  Joshua  Soule  was  elected  bishop,  May  13,  1820. 

elected.  2.  After  mature  deliberation  the  General  Confer- 

ence "recommended  to  all  the  Annual  Conferences  to  estab- 
lish, as  soon  as  practicable,  literary  institutions  under  their  own 
control,"  and  voted  that  it  be  made  the  special  duty 
of  the  bishops  to  bring  this  before  the  Conferences, 
and  use  their  influence  to  carry  out  the  design  of  the  General 
Conference  in  establishing  literary  institutions  of  a  high  grade. 
The  whole  Church  seemed  to  feel  the  quickening  influence  of 
this  advanced  action. 

3.  The  Canada  question,  which  it  was  supposed  had  been 
Canada  ques-  settled  four  years  before,  came  up  again.  There 
tion.  were  in  England  and  in  Canada  some  Methodists  who 

were  opposed  to  the  bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
having  any  jurisdiction  in  Canada,  or  making  any  appointments 
of  preachers  to  that  country.    The  British  Conference  had 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  99 


appointed  some  of  their  number  to  labor  as  missionaries  in 
Lower  Canada.  The  General  Conference  decided  upon  two 
things  :  first,  "  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  bishops  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  to  continue  their  episcopal  charge  over 
our  societies  in  the  Canadas,  except  Quebec;"  and,  second,  to 
append  as  a  note  to  Article  XXITI  the  following:  "As  far  as 
it  respects  civil  affairs  we  believe  it  the  duty  of  Christians,  and 
especially  of  all  Christian  ministers,  to  be  subject  to  the  supreme 
authority  of  the  country  where  they  may  reside,  and  to  use  all 
laudable  means  to  enjoin  obedience  to  the  powers  that  be;  and 
therefore  it  is  expected  that  all  our  preachers  and  people  who 
may  be  under  the  British  or  any  other  government  will  behave 
themselves  as  peaceable  and  orderly  subjects." 

The  bishops  were  empowered,  if  they  found  it  necessary,  to 
form  an  Annual  Conference  in  Canada  before  the  next  Gen- 
eral Conference. 

Out  of  this  legislation  grew  the  appointment  by  the  bishops 
of  Rev.  John  Emory,  afterward  a  bishop,  as  a  dele-  jotm  Emory 
gate  to  the  British  Conference  from  the  General  J^BMtuh 
Conference  in  America.  He  was  heartily  received  conference, 
in  England,  and  in  time  delegates  were  appointed  to  America, 
which  custom  continues. 

4.  The  formation  of  the  Missionary  Society  was  Formation  of 
approved,  and  it  was  embodied  as  a  part  of  the  Missionaryso- 
economy  of  the  Church. 

5.  The  "  presiding  elder  question  "  again  came  up,  and  was 
discussed  for  several  days.  A  .  resolution  offered  Presiding  eld- 
by  Ezekiel  Cooper  and  John  Emory  read:  "fie  er question- 
solved,  That  the  bishop  or  the  president  of  each  Annual  Con- 
ference shall  ascertain  the  number  of  presiding  elders  wanted, 
and  shall  nominate  three  times  the  number,  out  of  which  nomi- 
nation the  Conference  shall,  without  debate,  elect  by  ballot  the 
presiding  elders."  The  debate  took  a  wide  range.  There  were 
strong  and  capable  men  on  both  sides.  The  resolution  was  not 
adopted. 

Bishop  McKendree  had,  by  leave  of  the  Conference,  gone  to 
the  country  for  needed  rest.    It  was  during  this  absence,  and 


100 


MANUAL  OF 


after  the  election  of  Soule  as  bishop,  that  resolutions  on  the 
election  of  presiding  elders  were  introduced.  "  After  consider- 
able discussion  it  became  apparent  that  they  would  be  defeated. 
An  intimation  was  given  by  one  of  the  members  that  the 
bishops  had  a  compromise  plan  in  view,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  wait  upon  and  to  confer  with  them.  It  was  well 
known  that  Bishop  George  was  in  favor  of  the  election  of  pre- 
siding elders  ;  Bishop  Roberts  considered  it  an  infringement 
of  the  constitutional  provision  of  the  Discipline,  but  had  no 
personal  objection  to  the  plan,  and  felt  unwilling  to  interpose 
any  episcopal  influence.  Bishop  George,  after  consultation, 
informed  the  committee  that  all  hopes  of  agreement  were  at 
an  end.  The  next  morning  he  invited  the  committee  to  meet 
him  on  the  adjournment  of  Conference  at  noon. 

"  He  met  them  alone,  and  explained  his  views,  and  they  re- 
ported the  resolutions  to  the  Conference,  which,  understanding 
it  was  a  joint  agreement  of  the  bishops  and  of  the  committee, 
adopted  them  without  debate  by  a  vote  of  sixty-one  to  twenty- 
five.  Hearing  of  this  action,  Bishop  ATcKendree  returned  to 
the  Conference  and  called  the  bishops  together.  He  expressed 
to  them  his  decided  conviction  that  the  action  was  in  violation 
of  the  third  Restrictive  Rule,  as  it  changed  the  plan  of  general 
superintendence  Bishop  Roberts  concurred  with  him  in  this 
view,  but  did  not  wish  to  make  any  personal  opposition. 

"Bishop  George  declined  to  express  any  opinion  as  to  its  in- 
fringement of  the  restriction,  but  expressed  himself  in  favor 
of  the  plan.  Bishop  Soule,  whose  opinions  were  well  known, 
had  been  elected  by  a  majority  of  nine  over  Dr.  Bangs,  who  at 
that  time  represented  the  party  in  favor  of  election.  Being  a 
man  of  decided  convictions,  and  believing  the  action  to  be  un- 
constitutional, he  informed  the  bishops  that  he  was  unwilling 
to  administer  under  it.  This  information  Bishop  McKendree 
communicated  to  the  Conference.  Considerable  discussion  fol- 
lowed, during  which  Bishop  Soule  declined  to  be  ordained,  and 
resigned  the  office  of  bishop.  The  majority  of  the  Conference, 
finding  that  their  action  had  been  taken  in  consequence  of  incor- 
rect information,  or  of  misunderstanding,  voted  to  suspend  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


101 


resolutions  for  four  years,  and  they  directed  the  bishops  to  ad- 
minister under  the  Discipline  as  it  had  previously  stood.  An 
effort  was  then  made  to  establish  some  plan  by  which  the  con- 
stitutionality of  measures  might  be  properly  considered.  A  res- 
olution was  passed  recommending  the  Annual  Conferences  to  so 
alter  the  Discipline  that  if  a  majority  of  the  bishops  judged  a 
measure  unconstitutional  they  should  return  it  to  the  Conference 
with  their  objections,  and  a  majority  of  two  thirds  should  be 
required  for  its  final  passage.  This  resolution,  however,  was 
not  adopted  by  the  constitutional  majority  of  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences. After  Bishop  Soule  had  declined  to  be  ordained  the 
bishops  expressed  their  desire  for  another  election  to  be  held, 
as  they  greatly  needed  the  assistance  of  an  additional  colleague. 
The  majority  at  once  expressed  their  purpose  to  re-elect  Bishop 
Soule,  and  the  minority,  finding  them  resolute,  petitioned  the 
bishops  to  withdraw  their  request  and  let  the  election  be  de- 
ferred for  four  years.  Whereupon  Bishops  George  and  Rob- 
erts agreed  that  they  would  undertake  to  perform  the  extra 
labor."  *    This  action  closed  the  discussion  for  the  present. 

6.  It  was  through  the  influence  of  this  debate  that  the  pre- 
siding: elders  became  "  the  advisory  council  of  the  ^ 

°  The  presiding 

bishop  or  president  of  the  Conference  in  stationing   eiders  made 
the  preachers."     Thus  was  established  what  has    council^?  the 
since  been  called  the  "  bishop's  cabinet."     The  bish°P- 
wisdom  of  this  course  has  never  been  questioned  nor  its  con- 
stitutionality disputed. 

7.  The  Book  Concern  was  to  be  continued  at  New  York; 
the  agents  were  authorized,  with  the  concurrence  of  Book  Con. 
the  bishops  and  Book  Committee,  to  purchase  lots  cern- 
and  erect  suitable  buildings;  the  bishops,  in  conjunction  with  the 
book  agents,  were  directed  to  obtain  a  proper  incorporation 
of  the  Concern ;  the  agents  were  authorized  to  insure  property, 
and  to  publish  new  books  approved  and  recommended  by  the 
Book  Committee.  A  branch  of  the  Book  Concern  was  also 
ordered  to  be  established  in  Cincinnati.  The  Magazine  ordered 
to  be  published  was  directed  to  be  kept  prominently  before  the 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  pp.  107-110. 


102 


MANUAL  OF 


Church.  All  preachers  and  presiding  elders,  as  agents  of  the 
Book  Concern,  were  to  labor  to  increase  the  sale  of  books. 

Nathan  Bangs  was  elected  editor  and  general  book  steward 
at  New  York,  and  Thomas  Mason  assistant.  Martin  Ruter 
was  elected  book  agent  at  Cincinnati,  O. 

8.  The  great  question  of  slavery  was  brought  up  by  a  part 
of  Bishop  McKendree's  address.    A  carefully  pre- 

Slavery.  1  _  "  1 

pared  report  was  presented,  with  several  resolutions, 
but  all  were  rejected,  and  the  matter  was  left  as  it  appeared  in 
the  Discipline  of  1816. 

The  next  General  Conference  was  ordered  to  consist  of  one 
delegate  for  every  seven  members  of  the  several  Annual  Con- 
ferences. 

The  General  Conference  adjourned  May  27,  1820.    The  next 
session  was  appointed  to  be  held  at  Baltimore  May  1,  1824. 
The  episcopacy  and  ministry  of  the  late  General  Conference 
returned  to  their  exacting  fields  with  renewed  deter- 

Activity     of  ° 

tbe  bishops  mi  nation  to  labor  earnestly  in  the  cause  they  had  so 
andmmistrj.  }iear^    Bishop  McKendree,  though  feeble, 

issued  an  address  to  the  Annual  Conferences,  "  expressing  his 
strong  conviction  of  the  unconstitutionality  of  the  provision 
regarding  the  election  of  the  presiding  elders ;  but  he  recom- 
mended to  the  Annual  Conferences  such  an  alteration  of  the 
Restrictive  Rule  as  would  allow  the  plan  which  had  been  voted 
upon  in  the  General  Conference  to  be  adopted."*  Seven  out 
of  twelve  of  the  Annual  Conferences  u  expressed  their  judg- 
ment that  the  resolutions  were  unconstitutional,  and  recom- 
mended the  Annual  Conferences,  in  accordance  with  Bishop 
McKendree's  advice,  to  so  alter  the  Bestrictive  Rule  "as  to 
enable  the  General  Conference  to  pass  the  suspended  resolu- 
tions." 

There  were  five  Annual  Conferences  which  refused  to  con- 
cur in  the  recommendation  of  Bishop  McKendree.  Hence  his 
plan  failed,  as  did  ultimately  the  whole  proposition  to  elect  pre- 
siding elders. 

This  subject  produced  great  discussion.   In  the  Annual  Con- 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Metliodism,  p.  111. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  103 


ferences,  at  all  the  gatherings  of  preachers,  and  by  firesides  and 
every-where  that  laymen  and  ministers  gathered,  Discussions  in 
the  subject  was  discussed  in  all  its  phases.  The  toe  church, 
power  of  the  episcopacy,  lay  representation,  the  veto  power, 
representation  of  local  preachers  in  General  Conference,  were 
discussed.  There  was  started  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  then  in  the 
Philadelphia  Conference,  a  monthly  paper  called  Wesley  an 
Repository,  devoted  to  securing  changes,  especially  in  restrict- 
ing the  powers  of  the  episcopacy.  "  In  its  pages  inflammatory 
articles  were  published,  and  severe  attacks  were  made  upon  the 
economy  of  the  Church.  The  English  system  was  represented 
as  superior  to  the  American,  and  it  was  claimed  that  the  excite- 
ment was  sweeping  over  the  Church.  The  combination  was  a 
formidable  one.  The  dissatisfied  traveling  preachers  had  suc- 
ceeded in  exciting  a  large  proportion  of  the  local  preachers  on 
their  right  of  representation,  and  a  part  of  the  membership  on 
lay  delegation.  They  determined  also  to  carry  the  question 
into  the  election  for  delegates  to  the  ensuing  General  Confer- 
ence, where  they  expected  to  have  a  decided  majoritj'."  *  Their 
hopes,  however,  were  disappointed,  a  majority  of  the  delegates 
being  opposed  to  the  contemplated  changes. 

Bishops  George  and  Roberts  were  actively  engaged  in  trav- 
eling through  the  country  and  attending  to  the  work  of  the 
episcopacy.    They  were  in  labors  abundant. 

At  the  Book  Concern  the  appointment  of  Dr.  Bangs  and 
T.  Mason  as  the  book  stewards  was  followed  by  Book  concern 
more  vigorous  plans  for  publishing  and  scattering  ^creas^d  Un- 
hooks and  papers  among  the  churches.  The  Mag-  ergy. 
azine,  commenced  in  1818,  took  a  new  lease  of  life.  The  Wes- 
leyan  Seminary  property  in  Crosby  Street  was  purchased  and 
arranged  for  the  Book  Concern  ;  the  old  debts  were  paid  off  by 
increasing  the  debt  so  as  to  have  more  valuable  products  to 
throw  out  on  the  market,  that  by  greater  sales  there  might  be 
greater  profit ;  "new  and  costly  works  were  undertaken;"  "a 
system  of  exchanges  with  other  publishers  was  arranged;"  and 
some  "old  stock"  that  had  accumulated  was  sold  at  reduced 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  p.  112. 


104  MANUAL  OF 

prices.  Both  Bangs  and  Mason  were  practical  men.  They 
threw  all  the  force  each  had  into  the  Concern,  and  very  soon  it 
began  to  show  a  life  never  seen  before. 

When  the  property  on  Crosby  Street  was  purchased  there 
were  men  who  croaked  and  complained  about  impending  bank- 
ruptcy, but  these  wise  men  said,  "  If  the  General  Conference 
do  not  wish  to  take  it  we  will,  and  the  Church  shall  lose 
nothing."  In  1823  a  new  magazine  was  started,  called  YoutJts 
Instructor.  It  was  a  monthly  paper.  The  Church  owes  a 
great  debt  of  gratitude  to  Dr.  Bangs  for  the  brains,  muscle, 
courage,  faith,  and  energy  he  put  into  the  Book  Concern.  Had 
he  not  been  an  unusually  vigorous  man,  and  thoroughly  conse- 
crated to  the  Master  and  his  cause,  he  never  could  have  accom- 
plished the  work  which  he  performed. 

The  year  1822  is  marked  in  Methodist  history  as  the  time  of 
Augusta  tne  founding  of  Augusta  College,  in  Kentucky, 
college.  overlooking  the  beautiful  Ohio  River,  and  owned 
jointly  by  the  Ohio  and  Kentucky  Conferences.  There  had 
been  a  county  academy  in  operation  at  Augusta  for  some  time, 
and  on  learning  that  these  two  Conferences  were  determined 
to  found  a  college  the  citizens  of  Augusta  tendered  this  build- 
ing and  grounds  to  the  Church  for  such  a  school.  It  was  ac- 
cepted. The  Rev.  John  P.  Finley  was  elected  principal  in 
1822,  and  that  fall  opened  a  school.  The  work  grew.  Jona- 
than Stamper,  a  man  of  power,  went  out  as  an  agent,  and  called 
attention  to  the  enterprise,  and  raised  considerable  money  for 
it.  John  P.  Durbin  was  in  1825  appointed  professor  of  lan- 
guages, and  Joseph  S.  Tomlinson  professor  of  mathematics. 
In  1828  Dr.  Martin  Ruter  was  elected  president.  The  faculty 
was  increased  in  1831  by  II.  B.  Bascom  and  Burr  II.  McKown 
as  professors.  In  1832  Ruter  went  to  Pittsburg,  and  Dr.  Dur- 
bin to  the  editorship  of  The  Christian  Advocate.  Dr.  Tomlin- 
son became  the  president.  A  large  number  of  strong  men  were 
educated  at  Augusta  College  who  became  illustrious  in  Church 
and  State.  The  great  secession  of  1844  caused  the  death  of 
this  institution.  Xevertheless,  from  its  illustrious  example 
many  other  schools  have  grown  up  and  are  flourishing  with 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  105 


great  success.  Methodism  lias  reaped  from  her  educational 
enterprises  an  abundant  harvest. 

At  the  end  of  this  quadrennium  there  was  found  a  great 
increase  in  membership  in  spite  of  all  the  agitation. 

Progress 

The  increase  in  four  years  had  been  71,642,  making 
a  total  membership  of  328,523,  and  of  preachers,  1,272.  These 
figures  are  almost  fabulous,  and  the  growth  was  marvelous. 
Methodism  had  "a  well-defined  ecclesiastical  geography,'' 
writes  Stevens,  "  covering  all  the  settled  parts  of  the  Republic 
and  Canada.  ...  It  now  possessed  in  a  more  or  less  organized 
form  nearly  a  complete  series  of  secondary  or  auxiliary  agen- 
cies of  usefulness — literary,  educational,  and  missionary.  It 
seemed  thoroughly  equipped,  and  had  only  to  move  forward." 


106 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1824. 

The  providence  of  God  had  kept  the  three  bishops  in  fair 
health,  and  with  courage,  faith,  and  love  they  discharged  their 
duties  in  all  the  Church.  On  Saturday  morning,  May  1,  1824, 
the  fourth  delegated  and  tenth  General  Conference  assembled 
in  the  "  McKendrian  Female  Sunday-school  room,"  Baltimore. 
All  the  bishops  were  present.  Bishop  McKendree  opened  the 
session.  John  Emory  was  elected  secretary.  There  were  pres- 
ent 125  delegates  from  Conferences,  as  follows  :  New  York,  15  ; 
New  England,  14;  Genesee,  12;  Ohio,  13;  Kentucky,  8;  Mis- 
souri, 5 ;  Tennessee,  9  ;  Mississippi,  3  ;  South  Carolina,  11 ;  Vir- 
ginia, 9 ;  Baltimore,  13  ;  Philadelphia,  13. 

1.  Rev.  Richard  Reece,-late  president  of  the  British  Confer- 
Present,  r.  eiice  of  Wesleyan  Methodists,  and  Bev.  John  Han- 
f^Hannah  nan>  ms  ministerial  associate,  were  introduced  to  the 
of  England.  Conference  as  the  accredited  representatives  of  the 
British  Conference  to  this  Conference.  The  address  of  the 
Wesley  an  body  was  read,  and  Mr.  Beece  then  addressed  the 
Conference.  It  was  demonstrated  that  the  two  denominations 
were  in  spirit  one,  and  that  a  common  object  was  before  them. 
The  visit  of  these  brethren  strengthened  the  bonds  of  union  be- 
tween these  two  great  and  growing  branches  of  Methodism. 

2.  The  bishops  presented  a  united  address,  covering  among 
The  bishops'  other  subjects  that  of  a  financial  system  and  a  better 
address.  support  of  the  ministrjT,  the  forms  of  church  govern- 
ment, and  the  Canadian  question. 

3.  An  effort  was  made  to  divide  the  connection  into  episco- 
Diocesan  Pal  departments,  thereby  leading  to  a  sort  of  diocesan 
bishoprics,  episcopacy,  but  the  opposition  was  so  strong  that  the 
proposition  was  withdrawn. 

4.  There  was  an  increase  in  number  of  Conferences  from 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  107 


twelve  to  seventeen.  The  mimes  were  the  Maine,  New  En- 
gland, New  York,  Genesee,  Canada,  Pittsburg,  Ohio,  Illinois, 
Missouri,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Holston,  Mississippi,  South 
Carolina,  Virginia,  Baltimore,  and  Philadelphia.  By  the  mak- 
ing of  a  Canada  Conference  the  Canada  question,  which  had 
its  vexing  and  perplexing  side,  was  placed  in  a  fair  way  for 
settlement,  which  ultimated  in  a  distinct  Methodist  Connection 
in  Canada. 

5.  Lovick  Pierce  and  William  Winans  presented  a  resolution 
providing  for  a  veto  power  to  be  vested  in  the  bish- 
ops, "  but  within  three  days,  if  their  veto  presented  e  °  power* 
to  the  General  Conference  together  with  their  reasons  shall 
receive  a  majority  of  two  thirds  of  all  the  members,  it  shall 
become  a  law,  but  if  it  receive  a  majority  less  than  two  thirds 
it  shall  go  to  the  Annual  Conferences."  This  was  ordered 
to  be  sent  to  the  Annual  Conferences  for  approval  by  a  small 
majority. 

6.  At  the  last  General  Conference  the  action  to  elect  presid- 
ing elders  wTas  suspended  until  it  could  be  referred 

&  r  Presiding  eld- 

to  the  Annual  Conferences.  At  the  Conferences  it  er  question 
had  not  received  the  constitutional  vote.  At  this  settled> 
time  it  was  declared  that  the  former  resolution  "  shall  not  be 
carried  into  effect."  Another  and  a  conflicting  motion,  how- 
ever, near  the  close  of  the  General  Conference,  makes  the  sub- 
ject "  unfinished  business,"  and  defers  it  until  the  next  General 
Conference. 

7.  Joshua  Soule  was  elected  a  bishop  on  the  second  ballot, 
and  Elijah  Hedding  on  the  third.  Two  other  men  Soule  a 
received  large  votes,  William  Beauchamp  and  John  bishop. 
Emory.  Bishop  Hedding  hesitated  for  a  time  about  being  con- 
secrated a  bishop,  but  a  resolution  of  the  General  Conference, 
showing  their  high  appreciation  of  his  ability,  at  last  overcame 
his  scruples. 

8.  Nathan  Bangs  was  elected  editor  and  book  steward  at 
New  York,  and  John  Emory  assistant.  Martin 

-r»  nil  rrn         Editor,  etc. 

Kuter  was  elected  book  agent  at  Cincinnati,  lne 

net  capital  of  the  New  York  Book  Concern  was  $221,459.78. 


108 


MANUAL  OF 


The  New  York  Conference  continued  to  elect  the  Book  Com- 
mittee for  that  Concern,  and  the  Ohio  Conference  to  elect  the 
Book  Committee  for  Cincinnati. 

9.  The  General  Conference  authorized  the  bishops  to  "  select 
Missionary  for  and  send  a  missionary  or  missionaries  to  the  colony 
Africa.  jn  Africa  "  whenever  the  funds  of  the  Missionary 
Society  of  the  Church  would  justify. 

10.  The  subject  of  slavery  came  up  on  numerous  petitions 

and  memorials.  The  former  section  on  the  subject  of 
slavery  was  retained  in  the  Discipline,  to  which  was 
now  added  an  exhortation  to  masters  to  teach  their  slaves  to 
read  the  word  of  God  and  allow  them  time  to  attend  preaching 
on  the  regular  days  of  divine  worship  ;  also  a  resolution  that  our 
colored  preachers  and  official  members  have  all  the  privileges 
in  the  District  and  Quarterly  Conferences  which  the  usages  of 
the  country  in  different  sections  will  justify;  that  where  they 
are  in  sufficient  numbers  the  presiding  elder  may  hold  for  them 
a  separate  District  Conference,  and  that  any  Annual  Conference 
may  employ  colored  preachers  when  they  judge  their  services 
necessary. 

11.  The  question  of  Sunday-schools  received  attention  and 
Sunday-  their  importance  was  declared.  It  was  made  the  duty 
schools.  0£  eac]1  traveling  preacher  to  encourage  the  establish- 
ment and  progress  of  Sunday-schools.  Arrangements  were 
made  for  the  compiling  and  publishing  of  a  catechism  for  the 
use  of  Sunday-schools  and  children  in  general.  The  book 
agents  were  instructed  to  provide  books  suitable  for  the  use  of 
Sunday-schools.  This  was  the  commencement  of  a  great  enter- 
prise that  has  been  highly  beneficial. 

12.  It  was  made  the  duty  of  the  preacher  to  obtain  the  names 
children's  °f  the  children  belonging  to  his  congregation  ;  to 
classes.  form  them  into  classes  for  religious  instruction  ;  to  in- 
struct them  himself,  and  to  secure  suitable  teachers  for  them. 
The  Conference  began  to  appreciate  the  value  of  this  early  care 
of  the  children.  The  value  of  higher  education  was  set  forth, 
and  the  necessity  for  securing  as  teachers  in  the  schools  per- 
sons whose  "  learning,  piety,  and  religious  tenets "  could  be 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  109 


recommended.  These  fathers  of  the  Church  knew  the  real 
value  of  godly  instruction. 

13.  The  General  Conference  advised  that  the  work  of  the 
itinerants  should  be  so  planned  that  the  pastors  should 
be  allowed  sufficient  time  to  faithfully  discharge  all 
"  pastoral  duties  in  promoting  family  religion  and  instructing 
the  children  ; "  directed  them  to  observe  the  regular  order  of 
public  worship ;  to  use  the  Lord's  Prayer  on  all  occasions  of 
public  worship  ;  and  that  at  the  Annual  Conferences  the  preach- 
ers be  especially  examined  as  to  the  manner  in  which  their 
duties  are  discharged. 

The  Church  had  not  yet  come  to  publishing  a  weekty  church 
paper.  The  Methodist  Magazine  was  doing  good  Methodist 
work,  but  something  more  was  needed.  Martin  Ruter  Magazine, 
had  in  1815  commenced  to  publish  at  Concord,  N.  II.,  The 
New  England  Missionary  Magazine.  Its  career  was  short, 
for  it  ceased  after  "  four  quarterly  numbers "  were  issued. 
The  New  England  Conference  in  1821  united  in  an  association 
called  the  "Society  for  Giving  and  Receiving  Religious  Intel- 
ligence." This  led  to  the  publication  of  the  Ziorfs  Herald. 
Elijah  Hedding  was  president  of  the  association.  Its  first 
number  saw  the  light  January  9,  1823.  Its  size  was  9x16 
inches.  It  was  a  weekly  publication.  It  was  small  at  first, 
but  from  that  humble  beginning  a  great  Methodist  periodical 
literature  has  been  built  up.* 

In  1821  a  monthly  periodical  was  started  at  Trenton,  K.  J., 
called  the  Wesley  an  Repository,  octavo  in  form,  and  wesieyan 
edited  by  W.  S.  Stockton.  It  was  subsequently  re-  ReP°sitory- 
moved  to  Philadelphia.  It  lived  until  1824,  when  it  was 
merged  into  The  Mutual  Rights,  and  published  at  Baltimore 
as  the  organ  of  the  Reformers.  "  Its  object  was  to  promote 
changes  in  the  economy  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
embracing  lay  representation  and  the  abolition  of  the  episcopacy 
and  presiding  eldership." 

Shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  Zioii's  Herald  the 
Wesieyan  Jour  rial  was  commenc  d  at  Charleston,  S.  C.  On 

*  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  vol.  iv,  pp.  460,  461. 


110 


MANUAL  OF 


September  9,  1826,  the  book  agents  at  New  York  commenced 
the  publication  of  The  Christian  Advocate.  It  was  ably  ed- 
ited by  Dr.  Bangs  from  the  start,  with  B.  Badger  as  assistant. 
After  a  time  the  Zwn's  Herald  of  Boston  and  the  Wesley  an 
Journal  of  South  Carolina  were  purchased  by  the  Book  Con- 
cern and  merged  in  The  Christian  Advocate,  and  published 
under  the  name  of  The  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and 
Ziorts  Herald.  The  Zwn's  Herald  was  afterward  re-estab- 
lished. It  wielded  a  power  that  was  from  the  first  widely  felt. 
It  has  always  been  a  strong,  cultured,  able,  fearless  religious 
paper.    It  was  the  progenitor  of  the  great  family  of  Advocates. 

The  General  Conference  had  scarcely  adjourned  when  re- 
Renewed  agi-  newed  agitation  to  modify  the  presiding  eldership 
tation  on  pre-   coirinieilcecL    This  question  involved   the  whole 

siding    elder  1 

question.  economy  of  Methodism.  The  leading  and  thought- 
ful men,  when  the  General  Conference  had  decided  the  question, 
acquiesced  and  recognized  the  unconstitutionality  of  the  pro- 
posed changes ;  "  the  more  violent  commenced  the  publication 
of  inflammatory  articles."  The  Mutual  Rights,  published  at 
Baltimore,  was  especially  distinguished  for  its  violence  and  vitu- 
peration. It  was  doing  great  injury,  inflaming  many  minds, 
and  sowing  the  bitterest  kind  of  dissensions.  This  led  the 
lovers  of  the  Church  in  Baltimore  and  vicinity  to  issue  a  local 
paper,  The  Itinerant,  in  defense  of  Methodism,  of  which  Dr. 
Thomas  E.  Bond,  a  local  preacher  of  great  tact,  good  judgment, 
and  intense  loyalty,  became  editor.  "  His  racy  editorials  exer- 
cised a  wide-spread  influence,  and  under  his  leadership  the  friends 
of  the  Church  rallied  vigorously  to  its  defense.  Those  who  were 
favoring  reform  turned  their  attention  chiefly  to  the  subject  of 
lay  delegation,  as  this  was  the  only  question  in  which  they  could, 
to  any  extent,  interest  the  masses  of  the  people.  As  some  of  the 
ministers  had  incurred  grave  censures  because  of  articles  which 
they  published  in  the  Mutual  Rights,  'Union  Societies'  were 
formed  among  the  membership,  both  to  spread  their  principles 
and  support  each  other  in  case  of  prosecution  by  the  Church. 
As  articles  which  were  considered  untrue  and  slanderous  con- 
tinned  to  be  published  in  the  Mutual  Rights,  the  character  of 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  HI 


one  of  the  ministers  [Rev.  D.  B.  Dorse  y]  was  arrested  by 
the  Baltimore  Conference.  He  refused  to  obey  their  di lec- 
tions, and  was  left  for  a  year  without  an  appointment.  Still 
refusing  to  submit  to  proper  authority,  the  next  year  he  was 
expelled."*  He  appealed  to  the  General  Conference  of  1828, 
and  the  expulsion  was  confirmed. 

Certain  members  of  the  so-called  "Union  Societies"  exposed 
themselves  to  censure,  because  often  their  charges  Union  Socie. 
were  slanderous  and  their  language  abusive.  For  ties- 
continuous  disloyalty  some  of  these  persons  were  dealt  with  and 
expelled  from  the  Church.  This  was  followed  by  the  withdrawal 
of  some  of  their  friends.  Fifty-seven  delegates  from  various 
parts  of  the  constituency  of  these  so-named  "  Reformers  "  met 
in  Baltimore,  November,  1827,  and  held  a  General  Convention 
and  aired  their  grievances.  They  framed  a  memorial  to  the 
General  Conference  to  be  held  at  Pittsburg  in  May,  1828. 

Not  satisfied  to  wait  the  action  of  the  General  Conference, 
fourteen  preachers,  some  local,  and  almost  two  hundred  mem- 
bers organized  themselves  in  January,  1828,  under  the  name  of 
"  Associated  Methodist  Reformers." 

When  the  General  Conference  met  at  Pittsburg  the  memorial 
of  the  Reformers  was  introduced  and  the  entire  sub-  Methodist 
ject  discussed.  There  was  no  disposition  to  change  Protestants, 
the  economy  of  Methodism,  but,  in  view  of  the  hasty  and 
extravagant  action  of  the  Reformers,  it  was  proposed  that  if 
they  would  abolish  the  paper  Mutual  Rights,  disband  the 
"  Union  Societies "  within  the  Church,  and  cease  the  assaults 
upon  the  usages  of  Methodism  the  expelled  would  be  restored 
to  the  Church  and  favor.  This  they  refused,  and,  spurning  the 
offer,  became  more  abusive  than  ever.  ■  The  disaffection  wid- 
ened, and  some  timid  members  of  the  Church  feared  a  great 
rupture,  while  the  Reformers  proclaimed  the  entire  destruction 
of  the  Church.  A  convention  of  Reformers  assembled  at  St. 
John's  Church,  Baltimore,  November  12, 1828.  The  District  of 
Columbia  and  eleven  States  were  represented.  It  was  presided 
over  by  Nicholas  Snethen,  and  W.  S.  Stockton  was  secretary. 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  p.  117. 


112 


MANUAL  OF 


The  action  of  the  General  Conference  was  read  and  discussed. 
At  last  they  proclaimed  :  "  We  cannot  in  conscience  admit  the 
correctness  of  their  [the  General  Conference]  claims  nor  recom- 
mend the  Reformers  to  abandon  the  prosecution  of  an  object 
which  we  consider  of  vital  importance  to  the  future  welfare  of 
the  Church."  A  provisional  Church  was  organized.  To  it  they 
gave  the  name  u  Associated  Methodist  Churches."  To  them 
the  outside  world  gave  the  name  of  "  Radicals,"  or  "  Radical 
Methodists."  Often  in  their  debates  they  applied  this  term  to 
themselves.  This  convention  provided  for  a  general  conven- 
tion November  2,  1830.  When  it  was  organized  it  was  found 
that  one  hundred  and  fourteen  ministerial  and  lay  delegates 
had  been  elected,  equally  divided,  though  only  eighty-three 
were  present,  representing  about  five  thousand  members,  in- 
cluding eighty  ministers.  They  agreed  to  call  themselves  the 
"  Methodist  Protestant  Church,"  thereby  discarding  both  former 
names.  There  were  some  strong  men  who  seceded  with  the 
Reformers,  such  as  Asa  Shinn,  Nicholas  Snethen,  Alexander 
McCaine,  D.  B.  Dorsey,  George  Brown,  W.  C.  Poole,  and  Fred- 
erick Steir.  They  adopted  the  polity  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  excepting  the  episcopacy  and  presiding  eldership, 
and  introduced  lay  representation.  At  their  first  General 
Conference,  held  at  Georgetown,  D.  C,  May  6,  183-1,  Nicholas 
Snethen  president,  they  reported  fourteen  Annual  Conferences, 
nearly  twenty-seven  thousand  members,  and  about  five  hundred 
preachers. 

It  may  be  said  of  the  quadrennium  from '1824  to  1828  that 
Period  of  dis-  ^  was  a  Pei*iod  of  discussion,  strife,  heart-burnings, 
cussion.  anc[  sorrow.  Friends  were  estranged  and  often  be- 
came bitter  enemies.  Communities  were  torn  to  j^ieces  by 
feuds.  Churches  were  rent,  a  part  seceding.  Occasionally  a 
Church  would  go  off  en  masse.  Lawsuits  were  begun  for  title 
to  church  property,  and  prosecuted  with  all  the  rancor  of  bit- 
terest foes.  Nevertheless,  God  graciously  blessed  the  labors 
of  those  who  remained  true  to  the  cause  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Their  word  was  with  power.  Gracious 
revivals  occurred.    The  General  Conference  found  a  member- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH^HISTORY.  113 


ship  of  421,150,  being  an  increase  of  92,633  in  four  years,  and 
a  traveling  ministry  of  1,642 — an  increase  of  370.  "  The 
Church,"  said  Bishop  Simpson,  when  speaking  of  secessions, 
u  united,  compact,  and  powerful,  was  prepared  for  greater  tri- 
umphs in  the  future.  Thus  history  teaches  us  that  the  greatest 
misfortune  that  can  befall  any  organization  is  to  be  divided 
within  itself.  Secessions,  however  large,  are  far  less  dangerous 
than  contention  and  strife  within." 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1824  the  churches  in  Canada 
were  organized  into  a  Conference.  It  was  hoped  CanadaCon. 
that  this  would  harmonize  all  the  discordant  elements  ference. 
in  that  colder  clime,  and  give  perfect  satisfaction.  But  in  vain. 
Almost  as  soon  as  the  General  Conference  adjourned  m letter- 
ings and  complaints  were  heard.  Bishops  George  and  Hedding 
determined  to  go  through  the  Church  in  Canada  and  allay  the 
excitement.  Bishop  George  took  William  Case,  crossed  into 
Canada  at  Ogdensburg,  "  visiting  the  preachers  and  people  in 
the  lower  part  of  the  province."  Bishop  Hedding  took  Dr. 
Bangs,  who  had  been  instrumental  in  organizing  the  Church 
in  Canada,  and  went  into  Canada  by  way  of  Buffalo.  They 
visited  many  churches,  "made  explanations,  held  meetings,  and 
satisfied  the  greater  proportion  of  the  people."  At  the  Con- 
ference most  of  the  members  appeared  satisfied  with  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  General  Conference  in  giving  them  a  separate 
Conference. 

There  was,  however,  expressed  a  great  desire  for  a  Canadian 
Church.  "  The  plea  they  made  for  a  separate  organi-  piea  {or  gep 
zation  was  that,  as  the  Methodists  in  Canada  ac-  arate  church 
knowledged  an  ecclesiastical  head  in  the  United 
States,  they  could  not  expect  the  favor  of  their  own  civil  gov- 
ernment, nor  the  protection  of  the  laws,  for  the  government 
looked  upon  them  with  suspicion.  The  Methodist  preachers 
were  not  allowed  to  consecrate  marriage ;  and  it  was  said  that 
forasmuch  as  their  church  property  was  deeded  to  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church  they  could  not  legally  hold  it.  The  peo- 
ple still  seemed  very  generally  to  wish  a  separate  organization. 
On  these  accounts  the  bishops  pledged  themselves  to  use  their 


114 


MANUAL  OF 


influence  to  effect  such  an  arrangement  at  the  next  General 
Conference.    On  this  pledge  peace  was  restored.''  * 

The  New  York  Conference  elected  Freeborn  Garrettson, 
among  others,  a  delegate  to  the  approaching  General 
Conference.  But,  September  26,  1S27,  he  died  in 
New  York  city,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age  and  the 
fifty-second  of  his  ministry.  He  was  one  of  the  most  intimate 
friends  of  Asbury.  He  so  greatly  impressed  Mr.  Wesley  u  by 
his  success  in  Nova  Scotia"  that  "he  [Wesley]  sent  a  request 
to  the  Conference  for  his  ordination  as  superintendent,  or  bish- 
op, for  the  British  dominions  in  America."  When  Dr.  Coke 
presented  the  request  of  Mr.  Wesley  to  Garrettson  he  asked 
time  to  consider  the  matter.  The  next  day  he  consented.  But, 
strange  to  say,  he  was  not  ordained,  but  appointed  to  preside  in 
the  Peninsula.  "  Wesley,"  says  Stevens,  "  was  deeply  grieve  ! 
by  this  disappointment."  f  In  1793  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Livingston,  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  most  noted  families  of 
the  State  of  New  York.  She  was  wealthy  and  a  saintly  woman, 
whose  only  ambition  was  to  glorify  God  and  help  her  husband 
to  do  the  greatest  amount  of  good  in  the  ministry.  Garrettson 
was  a  member  of  the  celebrated  Christmas  Conference  of  17S4. 
He  was  a  good  preacher,  an  "  efficient  and  laborious"  evan- 
gelist, and  at  his  death  there  was  great  lamentation. 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Nathan  Bangs,  p.  260. 

\  Stevens's  History  of  the  Methodist  Ejnscopal  Church,  vol.  ii,  pp.  324,  325. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  115 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1828— EVENTS  TO  1832. 

In  1828,  for  the  first  time,  the  General  Conference  held  its 
session  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains.  This  was  an  evi- 
dence that  Methodism  was  rapidly  spreading  in  the  Missis- 
sippi valley,  and  taking  deep  root  in  the  soil  where,  in  years 
to  come,  it  was  to  have  a  most  wonderful  growth.  Thursday, 
May  1,  1828,  the  General  Conference  assembled  in  Pittsburg, 
Pa.  Bishops  McKendree,  George,  Roberts,  Sonic,  and  Hed- 
ding  were  present  to  hold  the  fifth  delegated  and  eleventh  Gen- 
eral Conference.  Martin  Puter  was  elected  secretary.  There 
were  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  delegates. 

The  quadrennium  had  been  one  of  great  agitation,  and  a  few 
of  the  delegates  were  in  sympathy  with  the  radical  movements, 
though  their  number  and  influence  were  so  small  that  they  did 
not  affect  legislation.  The  aged  and  infirm  McKendree  was 
able  to  be  present  at  times,  and  his  words  always  produced  a 
powerful  effect  upon  persons  who  had  learned  to  love  and 
reverence  him. 

1.  The  General  Conference  was  Compelled  to  give  utterance 
to  a  denunciation  of  heresy.  Joshua  Randall,  a  mem-  Heresy  de- 
ber  of  the  New  England  Conference,  had  preached  nounced. 
doctrines  wholly  contrary  to  the  teachings  of  the  Scripture  and 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  advised  by  his 
brethren  of  his  error ;  but  he  would  not  listen  to  their  counsel, 
and  continued  to  openly  violate  his  ordination  vows. 

In  June,  1826,  he  was  arraigned  before  his  Conference  and 
tried  on  a  charge  of  "holding  and  disseminating 

.  .  .  .  .  ,        Randall  tried. 

doctrines  contrary  to  the  teachings  of  our  Articles 
of  Religion."    The  two  specifications  were,  "1st,  In  denying 
that  the  transgressions  of  the  law,  to  which  we  are  all  person- 
ally responsible,  have  had  any  atonement  made  for  them  by 


116 


MANUAL  OF 


Christ."  "  2d,  In  maintaining  that  the  infinite  claims  of  justice 
upon  the  transgressor  of  the  divine  law  may,  upon  the  condition 
of  mere  acts  of  the  transgressor  himself,  be  relinquished,  given 
up,  and  the  transgressor  pardoned  without  an  atonement." 

Having  been  found  guilty,  the  Xew  England  Conference 
expelled  Mr.  Randall  from  the  ministry  and  Church.  He  ap- 
pealed to  the  General  Conference.  Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  represented 
the  Conference  and  Church.  He  made  a  clear,  logical,  and 
scriptural  plea  for  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement  as  taught  by 
the  Church,  and  showed  with  equal  clearness  how  the  teachings 
of  Randall  were  anti-scriptural  and  anti-Methodistic.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference,  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-four  to 
one,  sustained  the  expulsion. 

2.  William  Rverson,  of  the  delegation  of  the  Canada  Confer- 
canada  ai-   ence,  presented  their  memorial  asking  for  a  separa- 

lome^eS-  tion  from  tlie  ^etnodist  Episcopal  Church,  because 
rate  church,  they  were  in  a  foreign  country.  After  full  discus- 
sion the  petition  was  granted. 

3.  William  Capers,  of  South  Carolina  Conference,  was  elected 
Dr.  capers  a  delegate  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to 

delegated  to  . 

England.       the  British  Conference. 

4.  Bishop  McKendree,  being  in  feeble  health,  and  therefore 
not  in  condition  to  perform  full  work,  was  permitted  to  travel 
at  his  own  discretion,  and  to  take  only  such  oversight  and  super- 
intendency  as  he  might  be  able  prudently  to  do. 

5.  John  Emory  was  elected  editor  and  agent  at  New  York, 

and  Beverly  Waugh  assistant.    Charles  Holliday 
was   elected  book  agent   at   Cincinnati.  Nathan 
Bangs  was  elected  editor  of  the   Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal,  and  u  such  other  periodicals  as  are  assigned  to  that 
department." 

6.  The  temperance  question  received  its  share  of  attention. 

The  principles  as  set  forth  in  the  rules  of  the  Church 

Temperance.  .  .  .    .    .  ,,  ..  . 

were  emphasized,  and  a  resolution  passed  that  "it  is 
important  that  we  neither  drink  ourselves  (except  medicinally) 
nor  give  it  to  visitors  or  workmen." 

On  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Conference  the  bishops 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


117 


matured  their  plans  for  work,  and  each  started  out  for  the  full 
completion  of  his  allotted  work.  "  Man  proposes,  but  Bishops1  plans 
God  disposes."  In  the  early  part  of  the  summer  of  for  work. 
1828  Bishop  George  was  apparently  in  good  health,  but  in 
August  he  was  taken  seriously  ill  at  Staunton,  Va.  His  sickness 
was  short,  and  culminated  in  death  August  23,  1828.  Death of  Bistl. 
He  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Va.,  about  1768,  op  George, 
and  reared  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  an  early  attend- 
ant upon  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Mr.  Jarratt,  the  Episcopalian 
clergyman  who  was  so  friendly  to  the  early  Methodists,  and  the 
warm  personal  friend  of  Bishop  Asbury.  He  was  afterward 
thrown  among  the  Methodists  and  was  converted.  He  com- 
menced to  preach  in  1790.  In  1800  he  was  presiding  elder  on 
the  Potomac  District;  in  1816  he  was  elected  and  ordained 
bishop.  He  was  one  of  the  most  faithful  of  Methodist  preach- 
ers. Simpson  says  of  him:  "  He  was  a  man  of  deep  piety,  of 
great  simplicity  of  manners,  a  pathetic,  powerful,  and  successful 
preacher,  greatly  beloved  in  life  and  very  extensively  lamented 
in  death." 

Cazenovia  Seminary  was  projected  by  the  old  Genesee  Con- 
ference, then  including  in  its  bounds  all  western 
New  York,  Upper  Canada,  and  part  of  Pennsylvania, 
When  the  Genesee  Conference  was  divided,  and  the  Oneida 
Conference  formed,  the  Seminary  fell  within  the  bounds  of  the 
new  Conference.  Nathaniel  Porter  was  its  first  president. 
Larrabee,  Allen,  Johnston,  Bannister,  "Whedon,  Andrews,  and 
other  like  men  have  been  among  its  instructors.  Its  record  is 
a  proud  one.  The  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Lima,  N.  Y., 
was  proposed  to  be  established  at  the  first  session  of  the  present 
Genesee  Conference  in  1829,  was  opened  in  May,  1832,  and  in 
1833  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature.  In  the  year  1832 
Dr.  Samuel  Luckey  was  elected  principal,  and  continued  so  to 
be  to  1836.  The  career  of  this  Methodist  seminary  has  been 
illustrious. 

The  Wesleyan  University  took  its  rise  about  1830.  A  mili- 
tary academy  had  been  established  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  in 
1825.    It  was  not  successful,  and  in  1830  was  transferred  to 


lis 


MANUAL  OF 


trustees  for  a  Methodist  university,  and  a  preparatory  school 
was  opened.  In  1S31  it  was  chartered  as  a  university,  and  that 
fall  opened  by  Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  as  the  president.  He  died  in 
1S39.  The  next  president  was  Dr.  Bangs,  who  continued  to 
1842,  when  Dr.  Olin  came  to  the  office.  The  career  of  this 
university  is  a  brilliant  episode  in  Methodist  history. 

Madison  College  came  under  the  patronage  of  the  Pittsburg 
Conference  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  in  1827,  and  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Bascom  was  president,  with  Charles  Elliott  and  J.  H.  Fielding 
professors.  It  was  abandoned  in  1832,  and  Alleghany  College 
was  accepted  in  its  place.  During  its  short  life  it  educated  some 
talented  men,  of  whom  Bishop  Simpson  was  one. 

The  year  1832  is  distinguished  in  Methodist  history  as  the  one 
cox  sent  to  m  which  tlie  first  missionary  was  sent  by  the  Church 
Africa.  to  a  foreign  land.  Melville  B.  Cox  having  offered 
himself  as  a  missionary  to  Liberia,  he  was  appointed  to  that  field 
in  1832.  He  reached  there  March  9,  1833,  and  at  once  set 
about  the  work  of  gathering  up  the  Methodists  who  had  come 
as  colonists  from  America.  These  he  organized  into  a  Church. 
He  laid  the  foundations  of  the  Monrovia  Academy.  The  work 
was  opening  up  finely,  with  every  indication  that  a  prosperous 
Church  would  be  built  up.  In  less  than  five  months  the  fever 
of  the  climate  seized  him,  and  he  died  July  21,  1833,  in  the 
thirty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  Cox  was  a  true  man  of  God,  sweet 
in  spirit,  a  good  organizer,  a  man  of  culture,  and  an  excellent 
preacher.  His  death  did  not,  however,  dampen  the  ardor  of 
the  friends  of  the  Missionary  Society  or  the  Church,  but  seemed 
to  lead  them  to  think  there  was  a  duty  they  owed  to  the  per- 
ishing which  must  be  discharged. 

This  was  a  period  of  controversy.  The  air  was  full  of  it.  The 
radical  movement,  called  by  the  misnomer  the  u  Re- 
form," drew  out  most  carefully  prepared  and  vig- 
orous defenses  from  the  best  men  of  the  Church.  Not  a  real 
or  supposed  weak  place  in  her  economy  but  was  assailed  by 
her  enemies  and  as  vigorously  defended  by  her  friends.  The 
press  was  made  the  vehicle  for  disseminating  knowledge  of 
the  Church  and  her  doings.    Dr.  Bangs,  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  1  19 


and  many  others,  with  clear  insight  into  Methodism,  wrote 
and  published  strong  articles,  which  not  only  lessened  the  dam- 
age of  the  "Reform  agitation,"  but  really  strengthened  the 
cause  of  Methodism.  A  flood  of  light  was  shed  upon  the 
Church,  her  institutions,  economy,  and  the  results  of  her  work, 
that  opened  the  eyes  of  sister-Churches  and  led  them  to  recog- 
nize that  her  mission  was  from  the  Lord. 

During  this  term  a  doctrinal  controversy  was  commenced, 
full  of  excellent  results  for  Methodism.  The  Chris-  A  cuivinistic 
tian  Spectator,  published  quarterly  at  New  Haven,  controversy. 
Conn.,  and  "conducted  by  professors  of  Yale  College,  com- 
menced an  energetic  attack  on  the  theology  and  Discipline 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  Calvinistic  papers 
generally  copied  its  erroneous  representations.  The  discussion 
became  extremely  acrimonious ;  it  lost  itself  in  side  issues ; 
new  questions  displaced  the  old  ones ;  new  batteries  were 
opened  in  unexpected  quarters,  and  the  confusion  of  battle 
raged  generally.  Methodism  now  learned  the  importance 
of  its  periodical  press  and  the  vigor  of  the  man  who  had 
charge  of  that  mighty  instrument.  Every  serious  blow  against 
it  was  ably  repulsed."  *  In  after  years  Dr.  Bangs  reviewed 
this  controversy,  and  summed  up  the  result  in  these  words: 
"The  discussion  tended  to  enlighten  the  public  mind  on  these 
subjects,  to  make  our  doctrines,  usages,  labors,  and  successes 
more  generally  known  and  more  justly  appreciated,  and  thus 
strengthened  the  hands  and  cheered  the  hearts  of  the  members 
and  friends  of  our  Church.  It  tended  likewise  to  convince  our 
opponents  that  if  they  presumed  to  misrepresent  or  to  slander 
us  we  had  the  means  of  self-defense,  and  ability  and  disposi- 
tion to  use  them ;  and  that,  when  the  facts  were  clearly  stated, 
our  doctrines  and  manner  of  propagating  them  fully  explained, 
we  should  not  be  considered  such  dangerous  heresiarchs  as  we 
had  been  represented  to  be.  We  are  glad  to  know,  however, 
that  these  clays  of  strife  are  past,  and  that  a  more  friendly  and 
amicable  spirit  prevails."  f 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Nathan  Bangs,  p.  275. 
f  Ibid.,  pp.  275,  276. 


120 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XV1L 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1832— EVENTS  TO  1836. 

In  1832  the  sixth  delegated  and  twelfth  General  Confer- 
ence was  held  in  Philadelphia.  Only  Bishops  Soule  and  Hed- 
ding  were  present  at  the  opening.  The  old  patriarch,  Bishop 
McKendree,  still  lived,  but  was  feeble,  and  did  not  attend  the 
Conference  for  several  days.  Thomas  L.  Douglass  was  elected 
secretary  and  Charles  A.  Davis  assistant.  The  nineteen  Con- 
ferences were  represented  by  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
delegates.  There  were  present  three  visiting  delegates  from 
the  Methodist  Church  in  Canada — Case,  Ryerson,  and  Metcalf. 

The  bishops  presented  an  address  concerning  the  spiritual 
Address  of  the  an(^  temporal  condition  of  the  Church,  and  pointed 
bishops.  out  some  needed  legislation.  At  this  time  the 
standing  committees  took  a  more  definite  form,  and  the  sub- 
jects they  were  to  consider  were  clearly  defined. 

There  were  committees  on  Episcopacy,  Itinerancy,  Bounda- 
conference  Tiesi  an(^  Book  Concern,  composed  of  one  from  each 
committees.  Conference.  The  committees  on  Privileges  and 
Elections,  Missions,  Education,  Revisals,  the  part  of  the  bish- 
ops' address  referring  to  the  Bible,  Tract,  and  Sunday-school 
Societies,  Temperance,  Slavery,  and  Rights  and  Privileges  of 
the  People  of  Color,  were  of  a  limited  number. 

There  was  a  large  number  of  memorials  and  petitions  on  the 
spirituous  subject  of  "  spirituous  liquors  "  from  every  part  of 
liquors.  -(-he  Church.    The  rapid  growth  of  public  sentiment 

against  drunkenness  was  apparent. 

On  the  fifth  day  Bishop  McKendree  appeared  in  the  Confer- 
ence room,  having  been  too  feeble  to  meet  with  his  brethren 
earlier.  He  delivered  a  short  address,  but,  from  indisposition 
and  weakness  of  body  not  being  able  to  sit  in  the  Conference 
room,  he  soon  retired  to  his  lodgings. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  121 


At  this  Conference  (1832)  the  following  measures  were 
adopted : 

1.  Mr.  Samuel  Williams,  of  Cincinnati,  O.,  an  enterprising 
layman,  petitioned  the  General  Conference  to  pub-  Methodist 
lish  a  "  Methodist  almanac."  The  matter  was  re-  almanac, 
f erred  to  the  Book  Committee,  and  from  the  year  1834  until 
the  present  the  Church  has  published  a  Church  almanac.  It 
became  a  popular  enterprise,  for  it  furnished  a  large  amount  of 
valuable  church,  national,  business,  and  social  statistical  infor- 
mation. 

2.  It  appearing  that  the  required  constitutional  vote  of  the 
Annual  Conferences  had  been  given  for  a  change  of 

,  .         (    .     „       .    .       «  ,       .  i        j     Proviso  of  Re- 

the  proviso  ot  the  liestrictive  Kules,  it  was  altered  strictive  Rules 
so  as  to  provide  that  u  upon  the  concurrent  recom-  chan^ed- 
mendation  of  three  fourths  of  all  the  members  of  the  several 
Annual  Conferences  who  shall  be  present  and  vote  on  such  a 
recommendation,  then  a  majority  of  two  thirds  of  the  General 
Conference  succeeding  shall  suffice  to  alter  any  of  the  above  re- 
strictions, excepting  the  first  article ;  and  also,  whenever  such 
alteration  or  alterations  shall  have  been  first  recommended  by 
two  thirds  of  the  General  Conference,  so  soon  as  three  fourths  of 
the  members  of  all  the  Annual  Conferences  shall  have  concurred, 
as  aforesaid,  such  alteration  or  alterations  shall  take  effect. 

3.  It  was  shown  that  the  original  charter  of  the  Chartered 
Fund  only  allowed  the  trustees  to  have  an  income  of  chartered 
five  hundred  pounds,  and  that  now,  as  its  income  Fund- 
exceeded  that  amount,  it  was  necessary  to  secure  a  change  of 
the  charter.  Objection  also  being  made  to  the  title  of  the  so- 
ciety as  being  complex,  it  was  ordered  that  the  name  also  should 
be  made  more  simple. 

4.  As  an  evidence  of  the  growth  of  Methodism  in  the  United 
States  it  became  necessary  to  arrange  the  work  into  New  Confer. 
twenty -two  Annual  Conferences.  Troy,  Alabama,  ences- 
and  Indiana  were  new  Conferences.  The  latter  was  formed  by 
the  division  of  the  Illinois  Conference,  the  State  of  Illinois  be- 
ing placed  in  one  Conference  and  the  entire  State  of  Indiana  in 
the  Indiana  Conference. 


122 


MANUAL  OF 


5.  James  Osgood  Andrew,  of  Georgia  Conference,  and  John 
Andrew  and  ErnorV,  of  Baltimore  Conference,  were  elected  bish- 
Emory  elected   0ps.  At  a  meeting  of  delegates  to  consider  candidates 

William  Capers,  of  South  Carolina  Conference,  de- 
clined, stating  that  he  was  "  unwillingly  a  slave-bolder."  He  had 
inherited  slaves  and  had  tried  to  send  them  to  Liberia  or  remove 
them  to  another  State  where  they  could  be  emancipated,  but 
they  were  so  intermarried  that  he  could  not  buy  the  husbands 
or  wives,  and  so  remove  them.  He  had  put  them  in  the  hands 
of  a  trustee,  and  they  received  the  reward  of  their  own  labor. 
While  he  could  not  be  a  bishop  he  recommended  J.  O.  Andrew, 
who  was  not  a  slave-holder,  nor  was  his  father,  and  therefore 
there  appeared  no  danger  that  he  would  inherit  slaves.  Andrew, 
on  the  strength  of  this  plea,  was  elected.  Alas !  how  short- 
sighted is  man,  and  how  treacherous  his  heart !  Let  us  observe 
in  1S44  the  sequel.    Twelve  years  will  work  a  mighty  change. 

6.  Another  evidence  of  the  growing  interest  of  the  Book 
rook  con-  Concern  and  press  of  Methodism  was  seen  in  the 
cera.  elections  of  men  to  fill  the  places  in  the  Concern. 
Beverly  Waugh  was  elected  agent  and  book  steward,  and 
Thomas  Mason  assistant,  at  Xew  York.  Nathan  Bangs  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  the  title  "Magazine" 
having  been  dropped,  and  of  books  generally.  John  P.  Durbin 
was  elected  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  and 
ZiorCs  Herald,  Youth's  Instructor,  the  Child's  Magazine,  and 
tracts  and  Sunday -school  books.  Peter  Akers  was  elected  as- 
sistant editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate,  but  declined  the  office, 
whereupon  Timothy  Merritt  was  chosen  to  the  position. 

Charles  Holliday  was  elected  book  agent,  and  John  F. 
AY  right  assistant,  at  Cincinnati.  Provision  was  made  for  pub- 
lishing a  religious  paper  at  Cincinnati  at  such  time  as  the  agents 
and  Book  Committee  should  determine.  There  were  to  be  two 
book  committees,  one  at  Xew  York,  to  be  appointed  by  the 
Xew  York  Conference,  and  one  at  Cincinnati,  to  be  chosen  by 
the  Ohio  Conference. 

A  book  depository  was  established  at  Xew  Orleans,  and 
William  M.  Curtis  was  elected  the  ajrent. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  123 


The  Concern  was  in  a  prosperous  condition,  its  total  capital 
above  all  liabilities  being  $413,566.93^. 

7.  Petitions  came  from  Philadelphia,  Dorchester,  and  other 
places  asking  of  the  General  Conference  some  de-  Petitions 
cided  action  on  secret  societies,  but  after  the  Com-  against  secret 

societies 

mittee  on  Itinerancy  had  inquired  into  the  merits 
of  the  case  declined  any  action,  believing  that  the  "very  at- 
tempt might  involve  serious  difficulties." 

8.  The  Conference  made  the  clearest  statement  at  this  time 
regarding  the  design  and  work  of  Methodism  in  the  Design  and 
world  that  it  had  ever  given.  It  was  written,  workofMetn- 
most  probably,  by  Laban  Clark,  and  said :  "  Our 
itinerant  system  is  not  only  missionary  in  its  character,  explor- 
ing the  dark  and  dismal  wastes  of  human  wretchedness,  pene- 
trating the  habitations  of  the  poor,  and  tracing  out  the  abodes 
of  misery,  but  it  possesses  in  itself  the  ample  means  of  devel- 
oping the  resources  of  Christian  charity  and  carrying  into  com- 
plete success  all  those  benevolent  institutions  of  our  Church 
which  are  of  such  vital  importance  to  her  best  interests." 

9.  There  was  a  desire  in  certain  quarters  of  the  Church  that 
the  General  Conference  should  pronounce  on  the  Attempt  to 
reception  of  the  degree  of  doctor  Of  divinity  by  ^tor?  de- 
Methodist  ministers.  The  first  memorial  came  from  gree. 
Philadelphia,  Strange  as  it  may  appear,  this  subject  was  dis- 
cussed for  a  considerable  portion  of  a  session,  when  it  was  laid 
on  the  table,  and,  so  far  as  history  speaks,  still  lies  there. 

10.  Provision  was  made  for  the  appointment  by  the  bishops 
at  each  Annual  Conference  of  committees  of  ex-   committees  of 
animation  to  examine  all  preachers  on  trial  and  can-  examination, 
didates  for  deacons'  orders  on  the  course  of  study  prescribed. 

At  the  close  of  this  General  Conference  Methodism  had  in 
the  United .  States  548,593  members,  and  an  army 

StcVtistics. 

of  2,200  traveling  preachers  and  many  local  preach- 
ers.   There  had  been  an  increase  in  the  qnadrennium  of  over 
127,000  members.    The  secessions  had  not  seriously  affected 
the  number  of  members.    Simply  studying  statistical  Method- 
ism of  the  time,  there  is  not  discernible  any  "secession," 


124 


MANUAL  OF 


The  book  agents  in  1830  found  it  advantageous  to  change 
Quarterly  tne  Methodist  Magazine  to  the  more  stately  form 
Review.  0f  a  Quarterly  Review.  Dr.  Emory  took  the  edi- 
torial charge  of  it  until  Dr.  Bangs  was  elected  its  editor  in 
1832.  The  prospectus,  probably  written  by  John  Emory,  was 
a  bold,  clear,  and  strong  statement  of  facts  indicating  the  need 
for  such  a  periodical,  and  followed  by  as  clear  a  statement  of 
what  the  Quarterly  would  attempt.  "  For  this  class  of  peri- 
odicals," he  writes,  "there  is  certainly  a  greater  vacancy  in  the 
department  of  theological  journals  at  the  present  day  than  in 
any  other,  and  particularly  in  our  own  denomination.  There  is 
danger,  too,  of  satisfying  ourselves  on  one  hand  with  light  and 
transient  reading,  and  on  the  other  with  light  and  transient 
writing.  We  yet  need  a  journal  which  shall  draw  forth  the 
most  matured  efforts  of  our  best  writers,  whether  in  the  minis- 
try or  among  other  intelligent  and  literary  contributors;  where, 
also,  they  may  have  room  for  ampler  and  more  exact  discussion 
in  a  record  which  shall  endure  for  the  inspection  of  posterity. 
There  are  very  many,  also,  in  the  wide  circle  of  our  friends, 
who  have  both  taste  and  adequate  means  for  patronizing  such  a 
work ;  and  one  such  is  highly  desirable,  as  well  for  their  satis- 
faction as  to  lead  others  to  the  cultivation  of  a  similar  taste."  * 

Dr.  Bangs,  as  the  successor  of  John  Emory,  placed  the  Re- 
view among  the  first  periodicals  of  that  class  in  the  land,  and  it 
has  ably  maintained  its  rank. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  dangers  to  travelers  in  the  days  of 
Dangers  of  tne  stage-coach,  it  may  be  well  to  give  the  account 
traveling.  0f  Thomas  A.  Morris,  afterward  bishop,  and  the  ac- 
cident which  endangered  the  lives  of  seven  delegates  and  Bishop 
Soule.  They  were  on  their  way  from  Philadelphia,  where  the 
General  Conference  had  just  been  held,  to  Cincinnati.  "The 
company  consisted  of  Bishop  Soule,  J.  B.  Finley,  J.  Edmond- 
son,  D.  Young,  A.  W.  Elliott,  Jesse  Green,  and  T.  A.  Morris. 
They  were  crossing  the  Alleghany  Mountains  on  Stockton's 
fast  line  of  passenger  mail-coaches,  from  Baltimore  to  Wheel- 
ing. It  was  a  very  hot  day,  the  1st  of  June ;  but,  being  home- 
*  Life  and  Times  of  Nathan  Bangs,  pp.  281,  282. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


125 


ward  bound,  and  all  on  the  best  of  terms  with  each  other,  the 
time  was  agreeably  occupied  with  religious  and  general  conver- 
sation. As  they  came  down  the  west  side  of  Polish  Mountain, 
while  passing  a  train  of  heavy  wagons,  the  team  took  fright  and 
ran  off,  dashing  at  full  speed  down  the  mountain.  After  run- 
ning about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  the  coach  was  upset,  and  at  the 
same  time  precipitated,  with  team,  passengers,  and  baggage,  down 
a  rough  and  steep  embankment,  a  distance  of  thirty-two  feet. 
The  driver  saved  himself  by  jumping  off  his  box  as  soon  as  he 
saw  that  the  coach  must  go  over.  Rev.  Jesse  Green,  who  sat 
with  him,  attempting  to  follow  the  driver's  example,  broke  his 
arm.  The  coach  brought  up  against  a  new  and  strong  fence  of 
oak-rails  with  such  a  terrible  concussion  that  it  was  reduced  to  a 
wreck.  The  shock  to  the  passengers  was  terrible,  of  course,  and 
was  soon  followed  by  the  outcries  of  the  wounded.  Bishop  Soule 
was  the  first  to  extricate  himself ;  he  had  received  some  slight 
wounds,  and  had  lost  part  of  one  thumb.  The  next  one  who 
emerged  from  the  debris  was  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley,  with  his  face 
cut  and  bleeding,  and  his  whole  system  so  shocked  that  he  soon 
became  quite  sick  and  faint.  Mr.  Morris  then  crawled  out  un- 
injured. Rev.  A.  W.  Elliott  was  heard  calling  for  help,  and 
was  got  out  by  the  efforts  of  those  who  were  least  damaged — 
his  shoulders  being  so  wrenched  by  the  fall  that  for  years  after- 
ward he  could  not  get  his  coat  on  without  help.  Rev.  Joseph 
Edmondson  was  next  recovered  from  the  ruins,  very  much  in- 
jured— his  face  being  fearfully  cut  from  chin  to  forehead,  and 
the  blood  streaming  down  into  his  bosom.  Last  of  all,  they  re- 
covered Rev.  David  Young,  whose  unconscious  moans  were 
truly  distressing ;  his  collar-bone  was  crushed,  several  of  his 
ribs  were  broken,  and  other  injuries  more  or  less  serious 
received.  They  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  hill,  and  the  only 
shade  available  was  the  imperfect  one  afforded  by  the  fence,  in 
the  corners  of  which  the  wounded  were  placed.  There  lay 
Finley,  Elliott,  Young,  and  Edmondson.  As  Mr.  Morris  was 
wiping  the  dust  from  the  face  of  Young,  Bishop  Soule  came  up 
with  Jesse  Green  in  his  arms,  carrying  him  like  a  child  from 
the  hot  and  dusty  pike  where  he  fell ;  and  he,  too,  was  placed 


120 


MANUAL  OF 


in  the  extemporized  hospital  in  the  fence  corner.  One  of  the 
company  had  a  thumb-lancet,  with  which  Bishop  Soule  bled 
Rev.  Mr.  Young  pretty  freely,  and  he  soon  revived."  * 

The  Western  Book  Concern  arranged  for  the  publication  of 
western  a  weekly  paper  at  Cincinnati,  and  elected  Thomas  A. 
Advocltees"-  Morris  tlie  ^r?t  editor.  The  paper  first  appeared  in 
tabiished.  1834,  and  was  christened  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate. It  started  with  a  liberal  patronage  and  a  high  moral  and 
literary  tone,  and  has  maintained  both.  It  has  been  fortunate 
in  having  excellent  editors.  Morris  was  succeeded  by  Charles 
Elliott ;  then  came  Simpson,  Elliott  again,  Kingsley,  Reid, 
Merrill,  Hoyt,  Bayliss,  and  Moore. 

Bishop  McKendree,  the  senior  bishop,  was  called  to  his  high 
Death  of  reward  March  5,  1S35,  dying  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 
McKendree.  jje  stands  next  to  Bishop  Asbury  as  having  given 
shape  and  stability  to  Methodism  in  America.  McKendree  was 
a  native  American,  being  born  in  King  William  County,  Ya., 
July  6,  1757.  In  the  Revolutionary  War  he  was  a  patriot,  vol- 
unteering as  a  private,  but  was  advanced  on  account  of  merit  to 
the  rank  of  adjutant,  and  placed  in  the  commissary  department, 
where  integrity  and  skill  were  greatly  needed.  When  General 
Cornwallis  surrendered  to  General  Washington  at  Yorktown, 
and  the  liberty  of  the  States  was  acquired,  McKendree  was 
present.  He  was  a  man  that  would  be  recognized  as  valuable 
in  whatever  place  found. 

His  conversion  occurred  in  17S7.  In  178S  he  was  received 
on  trial  in  the  traveling  ministry.  OTvelly  had  great  influence 
over  him,  by  whom,  for  a  time,  he  was  led  away ;  but  discover- 
ing his  error  he  frankly  confessed  it  and  came  back  to  Method- 
ism and  became  one  of  its  stanchest  friends.  He  was  ap- 
pointed by  Asbury,  in  1796,  a  presiding  elder,  and  in  1S01  was 
sent  west  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains  "to  take  the  supervision 
of  the  societies  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Western  Yir- 
ginia,"  a  part  of  Illinois,  and,  in  reality,  all  the  unexplored 
region  to  the  north  and  west.  He  was  abundantly  prepared 
for  the  work  of  a  bishop  when,  in  1808,  he  was  elected.  From 

*  Life  of  Bishop  Morris,  pp.  121,  122. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  127 


1810  to  1835  lie  was  the  senior  bishop,  lie  was  a  man  of 
genius  and  energy,  and  became  a  cultured  man  in  the  best  sense. 
"His  mind  was  clear  and  logical,  his  knowledge  varied  and  ex- 
tensive, his  imagination  lively  but  well  regulated,  and  his  elo- 
quence was  unusually  powerful."  In  spiritual  life  few  ever 
excelled  him  ;  he  was  pure-minded,  tender-hearted,  merciful  to 
the  penitent,  but  of  iron  will  when  convinced  of  the  right. 
"  lie  was  careful  in  the  administration  of  discipline,  and  intro- 
duced system  into  all  the  operations  of  the  Church."  When  he 
preached  his  memorable  sermon  before  the  General  Conference 
his  personal  appearance  was  against  him  ;  but  his  wonderful 
eloquence — his  great  power  and  unction — carried  every  thing 
before  him.  Asbury  immediately  said,  "  That  sermon  will  make 
McKendree  bishop."  McKendree,  like  Asbury,  never  mar- 
ried. He  never  gave,  so  far  as  we  can  discover,  as  did  Asbury, 
any  reason  for  his  bachelorhood.  He  traveled  extensively 
through  the  whole  Church,  until  at  last  he  reached  his  brother's, 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died,  saying,  "  All  is  well ! " 

Another  death  caused  great  sorrow  in  the  Church — Bishop 
John  Emory,  D.D.,  was  killed  December  16,  1835.  BjShop  Emory 
Emory  was  born  in  Queen  Anne  County,  Md.,  kilIed- 
April  11,  1789.  He  completed  an  academic  course  in  Wash- 
ington College  in  1804,  and  the  next  year  began  the  study  of 
law.  Converted  in  1806,  he  united  with  the  Methodists.  He 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  in  1808 ;  but  the  next  year, 
though  greatly  opposed  by  his  family,  he  entered  the  Methodist 
ministry.  He  was  a  spirited  writer,  a  born  controversialist,  and 
an  editor  of  great  tact.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest  defenders 
of  higher  education.  In  1832  he  was  elected  a  bishop,  and  served 
his  Church  well.  He  prepared  a  u  course  of  study  "  for  candi- 
dates for  deacons'  and  elders'  orders.  On  the  morning  of  De- 
cember 16, 1835,  he  started  from  his  home  in  a  light  carriage  to 
go  to  Baltimore.  A  wagoner  found  him  by  the  roadside  insen- 
sible, about  two  miles  from  his  home.  The  skull  was  fractured. 
It  is  supposed  his  horse  ran  away,  and  that  he  was  thrown  from 
his  carriage.  He  did  not  return  to  consciousness,  but  died  that 
evening.    "  Bishop  Emory  was  a  man  of  unflinching  integrity, 


\ 


123 


MANUAL  OF 


of  great  strength  of  will,  and  of  more  than  ordinary  discretion. 
.  .  .  Few  ministers  have  equaled  him  in  accuracy  of  scholarship, 
broad  and  comprehensive  views,  fertility  of  genius,  and  in 
administrative  ability." 

A  great  calamity  fell  upon  the  Book  Concern  at  New  York, 
New  York  February  18»  1836,  just  preceding  the  General  Con- 
Book  concern  ference.  "  The  buildings,  with  the  entire  stock,  were 
consumed  by  fire,  the  estimated  loss  being  8250,000." 
But  a  small  amount  was  realized  from  the  insurance.  "  Public 
sympathy  was  excited,  and  a  collection  was  made  amounting  to 
888,316.09,  which,  added  to  the  insurance  collected,  the  value 
of  the  ground,  etc.,  made  an  amount  of  8281,650.77."  As  soon 
as  possible  new  and  admirably  built  accommodations  were 
erected,  the  necessary  presses  and  other  machinery  furnished, 
and  the  agents,  editors,  and  employees  busily  occupied  in  en- 
deavoring to  repair  the  loss  sustained  and  to  give  increased  im- 
petus to  the  business. 

The  Missionary  Society  was  in  a  condition  in  1834  to  found 
and  maintain  a  mission  amon^  the  Flat-head  Indians 

Mission  & 

among  the  in  Oregon.  When  the  tidings  went  out  to  the 
Fiat-heads.  Qjnu^jj  0f  the  earnest  request  of  this  people  for  the 
Gospel,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Missionary  Society  to  plant  a  mis- 
sion among  them,  funds  began  to  flow  into  the  treasury,  and 
prayers  ascended  to  Heaven  for  success  to  attend  this  work.  In 
one  year  the  collections  went  up  one  hundred  per  cent.,  or  from 
$17,097.05  in  1833  to  8-35,700.15.  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee  and 
Cyrus  Shepard  were  sent  out  as  missionaries  to  these  Indians. 
The  Church  looked  toward  u  our  South  American  cousins," 
and  desired  their  salvation.    Rev.  Fountain  £.  Pitts 

Mission  in 

south  Amer-  was  commissioned  to  visit  South  America  and  ob- 
serve the  country,  and  determine  on  the  places  where 
missions  might  be  successfully  planted.  Mr.  Pitts,  in  1835, 
visited  and  examined  the  three  great  South  American  cities — 
Rio  de  Janeiro,  Buenos  Ayres,  and  Montevideo.  In  the  two 
first-named  cities  missions  were  soon  after  established  :  the  one 
at  Rio  de  Janeiro  early  in  1836  under  the  charge  of  the  Rev. 
Justin  Spaulding,  of  the  New  England  Conference;  the  other 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


129 


at  Buenos  Ay  res,  in  December  of  the  same  year,  under  the 
charge  of  the  Rev.  John  Dempster,  of  the  Genesee  Confer- 


to 
ence 


In  1833  the  Pittsburg  Conference  established  at  Pittsburg  a 
paper,  with  Dr.  Charles  Elliott  editor.    It  was  called 

r  1      '  Pittsburg  Ad- 

Pittsourg  Conference  Journal,  and  afterward  was  vocate  estab- 
adopted  by  the  General  Conference  as  The  Pitts-  llshed* 
burg  Christian  Advocate.  In  western  Pennsylvania  the  inhab- 
itants were  quite  largely  Irish  or  Scotch  immigrants,  and  Calvin- 
istic  in  faith.  They  often  bitterly  attacked  the  doctrines  and 
usages  of  Methodism,  in  consequence  of  which  the  preachers 
were  greatly  embarrassed.  Dr.  Elliott  clearly  and  fully  stated 
in  his  journal  the  doctrines  and  customs  of  Methodism.  Thus 
many  prejudices  were  broken  down.  Correct  information  go- 
ing out  to  the  people  overcame  their  opposition,  and  Method- 
ism was  greatly  built  up  in  that  region. 

In  1833  the  Methodists  came  into  possession  of  the  property 
of  Dickinson  College,  Carlisle,  Pa.  It  had  been  Dickinson 
chartered  in  1783,  and  was  more  under  Presbyterian  college, 
influence  than  any  other.  Dr.  ISTesbit,  called  from  Scotland, 
was  the  first  president.  The  enterprise  was  not  successful, 
chiefly  because  of  financial  embarrassments.  In  1833  it  was 
offered  to  the  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  Conferences,  and  by 
them  accepted.  Dr.  Durbin  was  called  from  The  Christian 
Advocate  to  become  its  first  president.  It  has  been  a  prosper- 
ous college,  and  many  men  have  been  educated  there  who  have 
come  to  prominence  in  Church  and  State. 

Randolph-Macon  College  was  founded  by  the  Virginia  Con- 
ference in  1832,  at  Mecklenburg  County,  Ya.  It  Randoiph-Ma- 
since  has  been  removed  to  Ashland.  cou  college. 

Alleghany  College,  at  Meadville,  Pa.,  incorporated  in  1817, 
and  originally  under  Presbyterian  management,  passed  to  the 
control  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  in  1833. 

Yerrnont  Methodist   Seminary  and   Female   College  was 

founded  in  1834 
10 


130 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XYIfl. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1836—  EVENTS  TO  1840. 

The  General  Conference  of  1836  was  the  thirteenth  general 
and  seventh  delegated.  It  assenihled  Monday,  May  2,  in  Cin- 
cinnati. Bishop  Roberts,  now  senior,  opening  the  services, 
assisted  by  the  other  bishops,  Sonle,  Hedding,  and  Andrew. 
Thomas  L.  Douglass  was  chosen  secretary,  and  Thomas  B. 
Sargent  assistant.  There  were  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  dele- 
gates elected  from  twenty-two  Conferences.  This  was  the  second 
General  Conference  held  in  the  great  Mississippi  valley.  Al- 
ready th's  wonderful  valley,  in  the  center  of  the  United  States, 
was  demonstrating  its  resources  and  foreshadowing  what  it  was 
destined  to  become  for  Methodisnl  and  the  country. 

1.  Foreign  delegates  were  received  on  the  first  day.  Rev. 
Foreign  dele-  William  Lord,  delegate  f rom  the  Wcsleyan  Method- 
gates  received.  jst  Conference  in  England,  and  president  of  the 
Canada  Conference,  and  Rev.  William  Case,  delegate  from  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  in  Upper  Canada,  were  introduced 
by  Bishop  Soule,  and  addressed  the  Conference.  The  address 
from  the  British  Conference  gave  a  little  offense  to  a  few  dele- 
gates on  account  of  its  allusion  to  slavery.  Slavery  was  just 
beginning  to  be  a  question  of  moment  in  the  councils  of  the 
Church.  The  British  Conference  was  decidedly  antagonistic 
to  slavery  and  all  who  were  in  any  way  connected  with  it.  A 
guarded  reply  to  the  British  Conference  was  prepared  by  Bangs, 
Capers,  and  Morris. 

2.  During  this  General  Conference  the  excitement  on  the 
slavery agita-  slavery  question  became  very  great.  The  act  which 
tlon-  fired  the  opposition  occurred  on  Tuesday  evening, 
May  10.  At  an  abolition  meeting  held  in  Cincinnati  George 
Storrs  and  S.  Morn's,  "  members  of  the  General  Conference, 
attended"  and  u  delivered  addresses.'1    Storrs  was  from  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


131 


New  Hampshire  Conference  ami  Morris  from  Maine.  This 
was  deemed  by  must  of  the  General  Conference  as  very  unwise 
and  impolitic  at  such  a  time.  Two  days  after,  S.  G.  Roszell 
introduced  resolutions  which  called  forth  much  discussion. 
They  were  under  discussion  for  about  two  days.  During  the 
time  Rev.  Orange  Scott  spoke  very  fully  in  setting  forth  the 
spirit  and  principles  of  extreme  abolitionism.  The  resolutions 
as  adopted  show  the  drift  of  the  conservative  party  in  the 
Church.    They  are : 

"Resolved,  hy  the  delegates,  etc.  1.  That  they  disapprove  in 
the  most  unqualified  sense  the  conduct  of  the  two  members  of 
the  General  Conference  who  are  reported  to  have  lectured  in 
this  city  (Cincinnati)  recently  upon  and  in  favor  of  modern 
abolitionism. 

"  2.  That  they  are  decidedly  opposed  to  modern  abolitionism, 
and  wholly  disclaim  any  right,  wish,  or  intention  to  interfere 
in  the  civil  and  political  relation  between  master  and  slave  as  it 
exists  in  the  slave-holding  States  of  this  Union. 

"  3.  That  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions  be  published 
in  our  periodicals." 

These  were  adopted,  one  hundred  and  twenty  in  favor  of  and 
fourteen  against  the  first  resolution,  and  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
seven  for  and  none  against  the  second.  From  this  time  for- 
ward there  were  two  distinct  parties  on  the  slavery  question  in 
the  Church.  One  was  conservative  and  the  other  strongly  in 
favor  of  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

Some  time  prior  to  this  there  had  been  established  in  New 
York  a  paper  called  Ziorfs  Watchman.  It  was  a  zion's  watch- 
fiery,  spirited  paper,  and  quite  ably  edited  in  the  man" 
interests  of  abolitionism.  It  published  "  an  exaggerated  view 
of  the  action  of  the  General  Conference,  and  added  to  the 
antislaveiw  agitation  within  the  borders  of  the  Church.  In  a 
short  period  it  commenced  also  an  assault  upon  church  discipline 
and  order,  and  was  ultimately  instrumental  in  producing  a  se- 
cession from  the  Church." 

The  real  condition  of  the  Church  under  slavery  at  this  time 
is  admirably  stated  by  Bis'iop  Simpson  :  "In  the  early  history 


132 


MANUAL  OF 


of  the  Church  very  stringent  rules  had  been  adopted  and  a 
condition  of  str0Dg  protest  had  been  entered  against  slavery ;  but 
the  church  as  it  was  believed  to  be  impossible  to  execute  those 
undersiavery.  ruies  jn  ^Q  South  they  were  soon  suspended.  The 
utterances  of  the  Church  ever  remained  strong  against  the  evil  of 
slavery,  but  as  the  membership  increased  in  numbers  and  in  wealth 
they  became  more  or  less  connected  with  it.  At  first  its  members 
became  slave-holders  by  inheritance,  and  gradually  by  purchase, 
professing  a  benevolent  aim.  Some  of  its  ministers  also  became 
slave-holders  by  inheritance  or  by  marriage.  As  the  laws  of 
many  of  the  Southern  States  forbade  emancipation,  both  mem- 
bers and  ministers  were  tolerated.  But  where  the  law  allowed 
the  minister  to  free  his  slaves  he  was  required  to  do  so.  The 
spirit  of  slavery,  however,  like  evils  of  every  kind,  became 
aggressive.  Its  influence  extended  both  in  the  Church  and  in 
the  State.  The  North  was  compelled,  under  constitutional 
provisions,  to  return  fugitive  slaves,  and  scenes  were  enacted 
which  stirred  the  hearts  of  many.  As  the  subject  was  discussed 
more  widely,  petitions  were  circulated  and  signed  for  the  resto- 
ration of  the  early  rules,  while  abolition  societies,  were  organ- 
ized in  many  of  the  Northern  States  to  secure  political  action. 
Some  were  also  organized  in  the  churches  to  influence  church 
action  in  the  same  direction.  It  is  not  surprising  that  the  dis- 
cussion of  this  subject  created  intense  excitement  in  the  South, 
where  the  slave-owners  supposed  their  property  and  their  lives 
were  in  jeopardy.  It  is  surprising,  however,  that  so  much  feel- 
ing was  excited  in  the  North.  Antislavery  meetings  were  fre- 
quently broken  up  by  violence ;  antislavery  lecturers  were 
mobbed ;  antislavery  presses  were  broken  up  and  thrown  into 
the  river;  and  in  some  cases  houses  and  public  halls  were 
burned.  Notwithstanding  the  opposition  agitation  increased, 
and  the  antislavery  sentiment  of  the  country  constantly  received 
accessions."  * 

From  this  General  Conference  in  1836  until  1864  the  subject 
of  slavery  was  an  ever-disturbing  element  in  the  Church,  and 
the  constant  subject  of  discussion  and  legislation. 

*  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  pp.  133-135. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


133 


At  this  General  Conference  the  action  on  slavery  was  :  "  That 
it  is  inexpedient  to  make  any  change  in  our  book  of  Discipline 
respecting  slavery,  and  that  we  deem  it  improper  further  to 
agitate  the  subject  in  the  General  Conference  at  present.'7 

3.  The  condition  of  the  Missionary  Society  was  thoroughly 
considered,  and  its  original  constitution  altered  and    „.  . 

~  Missionary 

amended  so  as  to  place  it  more  fully  under  the  con-  society's  con- 
trol of  the  General  Conference.  Provision  was 
made  for  a  corresponding  secretary,  who  should  devote  all  his 
time  to  the  work.  Dr.  Nathan  Bangs  was  elected  to  this  office 
and  an  appeal  made  to  the  entire  Church  for  an  increased  spirit 
of  liberality. 

4.  From  the  time  the  Canada  Conference  was  set  up  as  an 
independent  Church  there  was  a  question  as  to  CIairnof Cana_ 
its  claims  upon  the  funds  of  the  Book  Concern,  dian  church. 
At  this  time  it  was  mutually  adjusted  by  the  Book  Concern 
furnishing  catalogue-books  at  a  reduced  rate  from  wholesale 
prices,  and  also  approved  rates  on  Sunday-school  books  and 
tracts,  the  contract  to  be  binding  until  1852,  after  which  it 
shall  be  void. 

5.  The  rule  which  limited  the  tenure  of  office  of  book  stew- 
ards, agents,  and  editors  to  eight  years  was  rescinded. 

6.  There  were  formed  six  new  Conferences,  making  twenty- 
eight  in  the  United  States  and  one  in  Africa,  "The  Liberia 
Mission  Annual  Conference."  The  new  Conferences  were  Black 
River,  Erie,  Michigan,  Arkansas,  North  Carolina,  and  New 
Jersey. 

7.  The  Church  in  Western  Africa  asked  for  the  appointment 
of  a  bishop  to  reside  in  that  country,  but  the  Gen-  Request  for  a 
eral  Conference  deemed  it  inexpedient  at  present,   bishop  for 

Africa. 

The  board  of  bishops  was  advised  to  select  one  of 

their  number  to  go  at  some  time  during  the  coming  four  years 

and  visit  that  work,  the  Missionary  Society  paying  the  expense. 

8.  Three  bishops  were  elected — Beverly  Wangh,  of  the  New 
York  Conference  :  Wilbur  Fisk,  of  the  New  England 

'  .        .    ,  .  Bishops. 

Conference,  and  Thomas  A.  Morris  of  the  Ohio 
Conference.    The  first  named  two  were  elected  on  the  first 


134 


MANUAL  OF 


ballot;  Morris  on  the  sixth.  Dr.  Fisk  was  absent  in  Europe, 
but  arrangements  were  made  for  his  ordination  on  returning. 
Dr.  Fisk  declined  to  be  ordained,  on  account  of  poor  health 
and  because  he  believed  that  his  services  were  more  needed  as 
president  of  Wesley  an  University  than  as  a  bishop.  Waugh 
and  Morris  were  ordained. 

9.  Thomas  Mason  was  elected  agent  of  the  Book  Concern  at 

New  York,  and  George  Lane  assistant.  Charles 

Elections.  ,  ° 

Elliott  was  elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian 
Advocate,  and  William  Phillips  assistant.  John  F.  Wright  was 
elected  book  agent,  and  Leroy  Swormstedt  assistant,at  Cincinnati. 
Samuel  Lrcckey  was  elected  editor  of  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal  and  Quarterly  Review,  and  John  A.  Collins  assistant. 

The  Book  Committee  at  Cincinnati  was  instructed  to  purchase 
ground  and  "  erect  a  suitable  building  for  a  printing-office, 
book-room,  and  bindery."  The  New  Orleans  depository  was 
discontinued.  Papers  similar  to  the  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate were  ordered  to  be  established  at  Charleston,  S.  C,  Rich- 
mond, Ya.,  and  Nashville,  Term.  These  were  to  be  under  the 
direction  of  a  publishing  committee  appointed  by  the  respective 
Annual  Conferences  within  whose  bounds  they  should  be 
established. 

10.  Appeals  came  up  from  the  Missouri,  Kentucky,  and  In- 

diana Conferences,  from  their  action  in  locating  men 

Appeals. 

without  their  consent  for  unacceptability.  The 
cases  were  well  and  fully  argued,  and  after  mature  deliberation 
it  was  decided,  1.  That  an  Annual  Conference  may  locate  a 
member  without  his  consent.  2.  Such  a  person,  under  the  Dis- 
cipline, is  not  allowed  an  appeal.  3.  That  when  a  member  of  an 
Annual  Conference  does  not  perform  his  work  according  to  the 
requirements  of  the  Discipline,  habitually  neglecting  his  duties 
when  he  has  the  ability  to  perform  them,  he  is  subject  to  location 
for  these  causes,  even  without  the  consent  of  the  member. 
At  the  close  of  this  General  Conference  the  Church  had 

650,678    members  and  2,781  traveling  preachers, 

Statistics 

being  an  increase  of  102,085  members  and  581 
preachers.    It  had  been  a  quadrennium  of  great  agitation. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  135 


In  the  educational  work  the  .Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
planted  one  of  her  most  enduring  schools,  which  has  4J  , 

*  t  .  Educational 

wielded  a  wide  influence  in  the  councils  of  the  Church.  work. 
The  Indiana  Asbury  University  (now  De  Pauw)  was  opened 
in  the  fall  of  1836  with  a  preparatory  school  under   .  M 

11  J  Indiana  Asbu- 

the  principalship  of  Rev.  Cyrus  Nutt,  A.M.,  after-  ry  university, 
ward  the  President  of  Indiana  State  University.  Bev.  Matthew 
Simpson,  A.M.,  was  elected  president,  and  entered  upon  his 
duties  April,  1839.  The  presidents  have  been  Simpson,  Berry, 
Curry,  Bowman,  Andrus,  Martin,  and  John.  This  university 
was  founded  by  the  Indiana  Conference,  which  at  that  time 
included  the  State.  As  the  Conference  has  divided,  it  has  re- 
mained the  property  of  the  Conferences  in  Indiana.  It  has  in 
late  years  received  some  admirable  gifts,  which  have  enabled 
it  to  develop  in  a  gratifying  manner. 

The  bishops  started  out  from  the  General  Conference  to 
visit  the  entire  Church.  This  must  be  accomplished  each  year. 
For  the  experiences  of  Bishop  Morris  the  reader  is  referred  to 
Marlay's  Life  of  Bishop  Morris,  pp.  141-151,  where,  in  his 
own  words,  are  given  his  experiences  in  getting  to  and  organiz- 
ing the  Arkansas  Conference. 

The  year  1836  is  memorable  in  the  fact  that  the  "  German 
Mission  "  of  Methodism  was  established.  Professor  German  Mis- 
William  Nast  was  "a  young  German  scholar  of  S10a- 
thorough  but  rationalistic  education."  He  arrived  in  the  United 
States  in  1828  and  became  a  private  tutor.  Next  he  taught 
German  at  West  Point.  By  reading  he  became  interested  in 
Methodism.  He  taught  modern  languages  at  Gettysburg 
Seminary,  and  afterward  was  professor  of  Greek  and  Hebrew 
in  Kenyon  College,  Ohio.  In  1835  he  was  licensed  to  preach, 
and  in  the  fall  was  received  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  and 
sent  to  look  after  the  Germans  in  Cincinnati  and  vicinity.  The 
German  Missions  were  recognized  by  the  Missionary  Society 
in  1836,  and  from  that  time  they  were  an  assured  fact.  William 
Nast  is  their  recognized  founder.  This  arm  of  service  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  extended  over  the  entire  coun- 
try and  to  Germany  and  Switzerland.  The  Germans  have  never 


130 


MANUAL  OF 


sought  to  set  np  a  denomination  by  themselves.  They  have, 
however,  German  Conferences.  In  the  course  of  the  third 
generation  they  usually  become  Americanized. 

The  Christian  Apologist  (Der  Christliche  Ajjologete),  the 
German  Methodist  weekly  paper,  was  projected  the 
last  of  1838,  and  its  first  issue  was  January,  1839, 
at  the  Western  Book  Concern,  Cincinnati,  O.  Rev.  William 
Xast  was  the  editor.  It  did  not  pay  its  way  for  some  time,  but 
friends  helped  it,  believing  it  would  ultimately  have  a  large 
subscription-list  among  the  Germans.  Their  faith  triumphed, 
and  it  proved  to  be  a  great  power  for  good  among  this  people. 

Bishop  Hedding,  at  the  Xew  England  Conference  which  sat 
Hedding  and  June  7,  1837,  met  the  extreme  abolition  movement 
abolitionism.  ancj  was  compelled  to  make  a  decision  on  a  constitu- 
tional question  of  unusual  importance.  From  the  General  Con- 
ference of  1836  Orange  Scott,  George  Storrs,  and  others  went 
home  with  a  stronger  determination  than  ever  to  force  their 
extreme  abolition  views  on  the  Church  and  at  last  upon  the 
country.  In  a  convention  of  a  few  of  these  men  it  was  deter- 
mined that  they  would  refuse  to  allow  any  business  to  be  done  by 
the  Conference  until  memorials  on  the  subject  of  slavery  had  been 
received  by  the  Conference  and  discussed  and  referred  to  a  select 
committee.  To  compel  this  action  every  other  motion  was  to  be 
laid  on  the  table.  Bishop  Hedding  was  informed  of  this  decision. 
Conference  convened.  The  question  was  sprung.  The  bishop 
took  till  the  next  day  to  answer,  when  in  writing  he  notified 
them  that  "he  could  not  admit  the  right  of  a  committee  to  re- 
port on  the  memorial,  and  of  the  Conference  to  act  on  any  report 
from  such  committee."  He  agreed  that  the  Conference  might 
act  provided  they  confined  their  action  on  slavery  to  "  a  respect- 
ful petition  to  the  General  Conference  of  1840,  and  that  this 
action  should  not  be  published  to  either  the  civil  or  religious 
community,  so  as  to  keep  up  excitement."  *  But  to  this  the 
agitators  would  not  agree.  He  then  declined  to  put  to  vote 
any  motion  on  the  subject.  Business  of  the  Conference  was 
greatly  embarrassed,  but  finally  was  concluded. 

*  Elliott's  Great  Secession,  p.  174. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


137 


Mr.  Scott  and  Mr.  Storrs  went  to  the  Maine  Conference  and 
"  commenced  a  regular  course  of  lectures  on  slavery  during  the 
Conference.  Indeed,  it  became  the  fashion  of  the  times  for 
Scott  and  others  to  go  from  Conference  to  Conference,  and  do 
their  utmost  to  engage  as  many  as  possible  in  the  ultra  proceed- 
ings of  the  times." 

At  the  New  Hampshire  Conference,  July  5,  1837,  the  same 
effort  of  the  abolitionists  was  made  as  at  the  New  England  and 
Maine  Conferences.  Bishop  lledding  addressed  the  Conference 
somewhat  extendedly,  and  gave  them  in  writing  a  proposition  of 
six  points,  on  agreeing  to  which  he  would  entertain  their  motion. 
They  would  not  agree  to  his  plan,  and  "  there  the  matter  rested 
for  the  present." 

At  a  later  date  Bishop  lledding  gave  six  reasons  for  not  put- 
ting such  motions  to  vote  as  were  demanded  by  the  HeddinK's 
abolitionists :  "  1.  Such  business  does  not  properly  reasons, 
belong  to  the  Annual  Conferences.  2.  It  would  be  injurious 
to  other  Conferences.  3.  It  would  injure  the  slave.  4.  It 
would  produce  agitation  contrary  to  the  advice  of  the  General 
Conference  of  1836.  5.  It  would  be  contrary  to  onr  ordination 
vows.  6.  The  admission  would  completely  prostrate  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Church  and  throw  all  her  great  plans  and  inter- 
ests into  confusion."  * 

The  discussions  continued.  The  New  England  mind  was 
much  stirred.  The  New  England  Antislavery  Society  kept  the 
subject  in  its  most  exciting  character  before  the  people.  Scott 
and  Storrs,  and  quite  a  number  of  other  Methodist  preachers, 
were  rank,  and  many  thought  unguarded,  in  their  expressions. 
The  mass  of  the  preachers,  while  strongly  antislavery  and  hon- 
estly wishing  its  last  hour  had  come,  did  not  believe  these 
extreme  ultra  views  and  acts  were  the  best  means  for  bringing 
freedom  to  the  slave. 

The  Pittsburg  and  the  Genesee  Conferences  passed  resolu- 
tions denouncing  slavery,  not  upon  its  political  and  civil  so 
much  as  its  moral  character,  and  held  that  it  was  premature  to 
now  petition  the  General  Conference. 

*  Elliott's  Great  Secession,  p.  178. 


138 


MANUAL  OF 


A  picture  of  the  times,  by  Dr.  George  Peck,  will  clearly 
peck'spicture  give  an  idea  of  the  spirit  of  the  age.  "This  year 
of  the  times.  tjie  antislaveiy  excitement  in  our  Church,"  says  Peck, 
"  reached  a  fearful  height.  Zion's  Watchman,  a  weekly  jour- 
nal published  in  New  York  and  edited  by  Rev.  Le  Roy  Sun- 
derland, a  superannuated  preacher  of  the  New  England  Confer- 
ence, did  some  good  and  much  evil.  It  helped  to  stir  the 
national  conscience  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  and  so  far  was 
right ;  but  its  spirit  was  bitter  and  its  style  inflammatory  beyond 
description.  It  denounced  the  bishops,  the  General  Conference, 
and  the  Annual  Conferences.  It  assailed  private  character,  it 
violated  the  sanctities  of  private  life,  seeming  to  aim  not  so 
much  to  win  men  to  the  advocacy  of  real  reform  as  to  compel 
thein  to  accept  its  leadership  and  adopt  its  methods.  The  jus- 
tice of  the  cause  which  it  represented  gave  it  influence  and  ren- 
dered its  errors  the  more  mischievous."  * 

Tiie  abolitionists  assumed  and  demanded  six  things,  and  who- 
Aboiitionists'  soever  questioned  the  propriety  of  any  one  of  these 
demands.  was  denounced  in  the  most  harsh  and  cruel  manner. 
"  1.  Slave-holding  is  a  sin  under  all  circumstances.  2.  Imme- 
diate and  unconditional  emancipation.  3.  No  fellowship  with 
slave-holders.  4.  Conference  and  church  action  all  through 
the  connection.  5.  War  upon  church  councils  and  church 
officials  who  refuse  or  hesitate  to  act  in  harmony  with  the  lead- 
ers of  the  reform.  6.  No  toleration  of  the  Colonization  Soci- 
ety or  sympathy  with  its  designs."  "  This,"  says  Peck,  "  was 
the  image  which  the  Watchman  set  up  and  called  upon  bishops, 
preachers,  and  people  to  fall  down  and  worship,  or  be  cast  into 
its  fiery  furnace  of  slanderous  denunciation.  Such  were  the 
spirit  and  the  measures  of  the  agitators  whose  errors  Dr.  Fisk, 
Dr.  Bangs,  and  Bishop  Iledding  opposed." 

Rev.  Luther  Lee,  of  the  Black  River  Conference,  has  given 
an  account  of  the  antislaveiy  agitation  from  the 
stand-point  of  one  who  gloried  in  being  an  abolition- 
ist of  the  strongest  kind.  He  speaks  of  a  convention  held  in 
Utica,  N.  Y.,  May  2,  1838,  "composed  of  Methodist  ministers 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Rev.  George  Peck,  p.  191. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


139 


and  laymen."  Orange  Scott  was  present  and  gave  an  address 
on  "the  connection  of  slavery  with  the  Church,"  and  Luther 
Lee  on  the  "  sinfulness  of  slave-holding."  These  things  caused 
great  excitement  among  the  pro-slaveryites — such  he  calls  all 
who  were  conservative,  though  strongly  opposed  to  slave-holding 
— and  gave  comfort  to  the  abolitionists.* 

At  the  New  York  Conference  of  1838  charges  were  pre- 
ferred against  Rev.  Charles  K.  True,  James  Floy,  and  David 
Plumb.  The  general  charge  was  "  contumacy  and  insubordina- 
tion," with  three  specifications : 

"  1.  Violation  of  his  pledge  made  at  the  last  Conference  not 
to  agitate  the  slavery  question. 

"  2.  Aiding  in  the  publication  of  an  antislavery  tract. 

"  3.  Attending  an  antislavery  convention  at  Utica." 

Mr.  True's  case  was  first  called  for  trial.  The  case  was  prose- 
cuted by  Peter  P.  Sandford,  and  Luther  Lee,  of  Black  River 
Conference,  defended.  Lee,  in  his  defense,  attempted  to  bring 
in  his  principles  of  abolitionism  in  the  question  of  the  sinful- 
ness of  slavery,  but  the  bishop  ruled  him  out  of  order,  and  the 
Conference  sustained  the  bishop.  When  the  case  was  submitted 
to  the  Conference,  True  was  found  guilty  and  suspended. 

Mr.  Floy's  case  being  called,  he  made  his  own  defense — said 
by  Lee  to  have  been  "  an  able  one."  Floy  was  convicted  and 
suspended.  The  same  was  the  result  in  the  case  of  David 
Plumb.  The  Conference  then  proposed  that  if  these  brethren 
would  pledge  to  the  Conference  not  to  agitate  the  slavery  ques- 
tion the  suspension  would  be  removed.  All  of  them  having 
given  the  pledge  they  were  restored. 

The  Utica  Convention  appointed  Lee  to  visit  the  Canada 
"Wesleyan  Conference  in  the  interest  of  the  abolition  movement. 
He  himself  says  :  "  The  president,  the  venerable  father,  said  they 
were  with  the  abolitionists  in  principle,  and  that  we  might  rest 
assured  of  their  sympathies  and  their  prayers,  but  that  he  thought 
it  would  be  improper  to  receive  me  in  a  Conference  capacity 
as  an  antislavery  delegate,  lest  it  should  disturb  the  friendly 
relations  between  the  two  bodies."  f 

*  Autobiography  of  Luther  Lee,  p.  141.  f  Lbid.,  p.  161. 


140 


MANUAL  OF 


Charges  were  preferred  against  Lee  by  Jesse  T.  Peck  at  the 
Black  River  Conference  of  1838,  but  by  the  earnest  request  of 
brethren  were  withdrawn.  Lee  then  located,  and  as  a  local  elder 
remained  in  the  Church.  From  this  time  he  continued  to  advo- 
cate the  abolition  cause  to  his  utmost  in  New  York  and  New 
England. 

This  discussion  continued  through  the  quadrennium.  Scott 
and  Storrs  were  united  with  Gerrit  Smith  and  others  in  their 
inflammatory  proceedings.  Gerrit  Smith  in  most  unmeasured 
terms  assailed  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  "  vilifying  her 
councils  and  her  leading  men." 

In  the  South  there  was  some  discussion  and  excitement  re- 
garding the  acts  of  the  extreme  abolitionists,  but  the 

Some  excite-     »  o  ? 

ment  in  the  great  heart  of  the  Church  was  steadily  holding  on 
its  settled  course — the  friend  of  the  slave,  and  urging 
the  slave-holder  to  rid  himself  of  the  evil  as  soon  as  possible. 

In  many  parts  of  the  Church  there  were  extensive  revivals 
of  religion,  and  many  flocked  to  the  Church,  while 
in  other  parts,  as  a  consequence  of  the  great  abolition 
agitation,  there  was  a  falling  off.  The  total  increase  for  the 
year  1839  was  43,910. 

Rev.  John  Dempster — afterward  the  father  of  Methodist 
John  Demp-  theological  schools — had  been  sent  in  1836  to  the 
ster.  South  American  Mission.    He  succeeded  in  doing 

good  work  and  strengthened  the  Church.  But  most  of  all 
he  obtained  a  large  amount  of  information  concerning  these 
countries  which  has  enabled  the  Church  to  more  intelligently 
carry  forward  this  work  since  his  day. 

Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  died  at  Middletown,  Conn.,  February  22, 
Death  of  Dr.  1838.  He  was  "  one  of  the  purest  men,  and  one  of 
Flsk*  the  most  intellectual  and  eloquent  preachers  the 

Church  has  ever  possessed."  He  was  a  great  writer  and  supe- 
rior college  president. 

The  year  1839  was  the  centennial  of  Methodism  in  the  world, 
centennial  of  In  ^39  John  Wesley  founded  unwittingly  the  great 
Methodism.  movement  which  lias  been  called  Methodism.  In 
one  hundred  years  it  had  gone  out  to  most' parts  of  the  world, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  141 


and  was  established,  in  obedience  to  Christ's  dictate,  "  Go  ye 
into  all  the  world."  In  the  United  States  it  had  succeeded 
beyond  all  calculation,  and  had  grown  to  be  one  of  the  great 
Churches  of  the  nation.  It  had  in  its  communion  over  700,000 
members,  as  many  as  the  largest  denomination  then  enrolled, 
unless,  possibly,  the  Baptists.  Arrangements  were  made  by 
the  authorities  of  the  Church,  and  the  25th  day  of  October, 
1839,  was  observed  as  a  day  of  "festive  religious  observance 
throughout  the  Methodist  churches  in  all  parts  of  the  world." 
The  contributions  on  that  day  to  Methodism  in  money  were 
marvelous.  It  had  never  before  been  exceeded.  In  England 
the  Wesleyans  gave  $1,080,000,  while  the  American  Methodists 
gave  $600,000. 

"A  very  general  pulsation,"  writes  Dr.  Bangs,  "was  felt 
throughout  the  entire  Methodist  community  in  favor  of  the 
celebration,  and  the  several  Annual  Conferences  adopted  meas- 
ures for  its  observance  on  the  day  appointed.  .  .  .  The 
manner  in  which  the  celebration  was  conducted  had  a  hallowing 
influence  upon  the  Church  generally,  and  tended  very  much  to 
increase  the  spirit  of  devotion.  Sermons  were  preached  and 
addresses  delivered  in  almost  every  society  throughout  the  con- 
nection, both  on  the  25th  of  October,  the  day  on  which 
the  foundation  of  Methodism  was  laid  by  forming  the  first  class, 
and  on  previous  days,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  up  collections 
for  the  objects  specified.  It  was,  indeed,  a  sublime  spectacle  to 
contemplate  the  assemblage  of  more  than  one  million  of  people, 
joined  by  perhaps  three  times  that  number  of  friends,  uniting 
to  offer  up  thanksgiving  to  God.  It  gave  us  an  opportunity  of 
renewing  first  principles,  of  estimating  anew  the  blessings  be- 
stowed upon  us  as  a  people,  of  praising  God  for  the  past,  and 
of  clustering  together  motives  for  future  trust  and  diligence."* 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Nathan  Bangs,  p.  327. 


142 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1840  — EVENTS  TO  1844. 

The  fourteenth  General  and  eighth  delegated  Conference  as- 
sembled in  Baltimore  May  1, 1840.  Bishop  Roberts,  the  senior 
bishop,  presided  at  the  opening.  Bishops  Hedding,  Andrew, 
Wangh,  and  Morris  were  also  present,  and  in  turn  presided 
during  the  sessions.  There  were  one  hundred  and  forty-three 
delegates  in  attendance.  The  largest  delegation  was  from  New 
York  Conference,  which  had  10,  led  by  Dr.  Bangs.  The  Ohio 
and  Baltimore  had  each  8;  New  England,  7;  New  Hamp- 
shire, Troy,  Oneida,  Genesee,  Illinois,  and  Georgia  had 
each  6  ;  Maine,  Pittsburg,  Erie,  Michigan,  Kentucky,  Indiana, 
Tennessee,  South  Carolina,  Philadelphia,  and  New  Jersey  Con- 
ferences each  had  5;  Black  River,  4;  Missouri,  Holston, 
Mississippi,  Alabama,  North  Carolina,  and  Virginia,  each  3 ; 
and  Arkansas  Conference,  2  delegates. 

John  A.  Collins  was  elected  secretary,  with  James  B. 
Honglitaling  and  Thomas  B.  Sargent  as  assistants.  Sargent 
was  not  a  member  of  the  General  Conference. 

Rev.  Robert  Newton,  as  the  representative  from  the  British 
visiting  rep-  Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference  ;  Rev.  Joseph  Stin- 
resentatives.  ^  president  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Confer- 
ence, Upper  Canada;  Rev.  John  Ryerson,  representative  from 
Canada  Conference;  and  Joseph  Sowter,  Esq.,  of  Castle  Don- 
ington,  traveling  companion  of  Dr.  Newton,  were  introduced 
and  addressed  the  Conference,  bringing  fraternal  greetings  from 
their  various  bodies. 

The  bishops'  address  was  presented  and  read  by  Bishop 
The  bishops'  Wangh.  It  reviewed  the  growth  and  success  of 
address.  Methodism,  that  had  just  completed  its  first  cent- 
ury;  the  difficulties  attending  the  settlement  of  the  slavery 
question  ;  the  constitutional  powers  of  the  bishops  in  their 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY". 


143 


relations  to  the  Annual  Conferences;  the  rights  of  Annual  and 
Quarterly  Conferences  in  their  official  capacities ;  the  subject 
of  collegiate  education  ;  the  necessity  for  a  regular  and  uniform 
course  of  study  for  the  under-grad  nates  in  the  ministry,  recom- 
mending that  it  extend  to  the  time  of  ordination  as  elder,  and 
the  propriety  of  extending  the  requirement  to  the  local  minis- 
try ;  a  careful  review  of  the  process  prescribed  in  the  Discipline 
in  the  provision  for  locating  a  preacher  without  his  consent; 
to  what  classes  of  schools  the  bishops  were  authorized  to  appoint 
preachers;  the  purely  literary,  scientific,  and  religious  character 
of  our  periodicals ;  advice  not  to  meddle  with  politics;  a  rule 
for  the  admission  without  probation  of  members  of  other  de- 
nominations who  desire  to  enter  the  communion  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  ;  the  need  for  strengthening  the  board 
of  bishops,  where  only  three  of  the  six  were  effective,  and  the 
other  three  "enfeebled  by  labor,  age,  and  infirmity;-'  the  ef- 
forts of  the  parent  Missionary  Society  to  establish  a  central 
Indian  manual  labor  school;  and  the  wrork  in  Africa,  which  was 
regarded  witli  "  deepest  solicitude." 

The  address  gave  a  remarkable  statement  of  what  are  requi- 
sites for  a  Methodist  bishop.    "To  minds  capable 

.  ,  .  r.  .  .  Requisites  for 

of  grasping  this  vast  machinery  of  our  itinerant  a  Methodist 
system  it  will  readily  appear  that  an  effective  super-  blshop' 
in!endency  is  indispensably  necessary  to  keep  it  in  regular,  en- 
ergetic, and  successful  operation.  It  must  be  effective,  not 
imbecile  ;  general,  not  sectional  ;  itinerant,  not  local.  Destitute 
of  either  of  these  prerequisites,  the  probable  result  would  be  a 
disorganization  of  the  system  and  weakness  and  inefficiency  in 
all  its  parts."  * 

The  following  were  among  the  important  actions  of  the 
General  Conference  of  1840 : 

1.  The  subject  of  a  periodical  for  women — "the  mothers  and 
daughters  of  the  land  " — was  fully  discussed,  and    _  _ ,  . 

&  J  '  Ladies'  pe  r.i- 

the  book  agents  at  Cincinnati,  O.,  were  instructed    odicai  p:u- 

.  jected. 

to  commence  to  publish  such  a  periodical  as  soon  as 

in  their  opinion  and  the  judgment  of  the  Cincinnati  Book  Com- 

,  *  Journal,  vol.  ii,  p.  148. 


144 


MANUAL  OF 


mittee  there  would  be  sufficient  patronage.  Dr.  L.  L.  Ha  inline 
was  elected  assistant  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate, 
and  also  assumed  the  editorship  of  this  new  periodical  in 
January,  1841,  when  the  first  number  of  the  Ladies'  Reposi- 
tory was  issued.  It  took  a  high  rank  as  thoroughly  Christian 
and  highly  literary.  It  had  a  list  of  grand  men  for  editors. 
Leonidas  L.  Ham  line,  Edward  Thomson,  Benjamin  F.  Tefft, 
William  C.  Larrabee,  Davis  W.  Clark,  Isaac  W.  Wiley,  Erastus 
Went  worth,  and  Daniel  Curry  were  men  of  the  finest  culture 
and  grace  as  writers.  Four  of  them  were  elected  bishops — 
the  highest  office  in  the  Church. 

2.  The  design  and  work  of  the  American  Colonization  Society 

were  indorsed  as  a  "  noble  and  philanthropic  enter- 
American 

colonization  prise,"  and  the  Annual  Conferences  were  authorized 
to  arrange  that  collections  be  taken  to  aid  the  so- 
ciety. This  action  was  very  distasteful  to  Orange  Scott  and 
his  friends,  for  they  esteemed  it  only  tending  to  perpetuate 
slavery. 

3.  Memorials  had  been  presented  concerning  colored  mem- 

bers p'ivinof  testimony  against  white  persons.  It 

Testimony  of  o        o  .    .  . 

colored  per-    was  enacted  "that  it  is  inexpedient  and  unjustifiable 
for  any  preacher  among  us  to  permit  colored  per- 
sons to  give  testimony  against  white  persons  in  any  State  where 
they  are  denied  that  privilege  in  trials  at  law." 

4.  The  General  Conference,  after  full  discussion,  decided 
Declined  lay  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  change  the  form  of  our 
GenSicon^  church  government  by  the  introduction  of  lay  dele- 
ference.         gation  into  the  General  Conference. 

5.  The  Church  was  arranged  in  thirty-four  Annual  Con- 
Thirty -four  ferences,  the  Liberia  Mission  Annual  Conference 
conferences,  making  the  last.  The  new  Conferences  were  the 
Providence,  North  Ohio,  Rock  River,  Memphis,  and  Texas. 

6.  Bishop  Soule  was  the  delegate  to  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 

Conference  of  1842,  and  on  his  nomination  T.  B.  Sar- 

Bishop  Soule  '  ; 

a  dekgate  to    gent  was  elected  as  his  traveling  companion.  Bishop 
Hedding  was  requested  to  be  the  representative  to 
the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Conference  of  Upper  Canada,  in  1841. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  H", 


7.    The  Committee  on  Education  presented  the  following  as 
a  full  list  of  the  schools  that  were  under  the  control 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1840.  The 
list  is  valuable  as  information. 

New  York  Conference:  Wesleyan  University,  White  Plains 
Academy,  and  Amenia  Seminary. 

New  England  Conference  :  Wesleyan  University,  Wilbraham 
Academy. 

Maine  Conference  :  Maine  Wesleyan  Seminary. 

New  Hampshire  Conference :  Newbury  Seminary,  South 
New  Market  Seminary. 

Troy  Conference :  Troy  Conference  Academy. 

Pittsburg  Conference  :  Alleghany  College. 

Erie  Conference  :  Alleghany  College. 

Black  River  Conference  :  Gouverneur  High  School. 

Oneida  Conference  :  Gouverneur  Wesleyan  Seminary. 

Michigan  Conference:  Norwalk  Seminary. 

Genesee  Conference :  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary. 

Ohio  Conference :  Worthington  Female  Seminary,  Augusta 
College,  Blendon  Young  Men's  Seminary,  Canton  Female 
Seminary. 

Missouri  Conference:  St.  Charles  College. 
Illinois  Conference  :  McKendree  College. 
Kentucky  Conference  :  Augusta  College. 
Indiana  Conference:  Asbury  University. 
Holston  Conference :  Henry  and  Emory  College,  Holston 
College. 

Tennessee  Conference :  LaGrange  College. 

Mississippi  Conference:  Elizabeth  Female  College,  Emory 
Academy,  Yicksburg  Academy,  Woodville  Female  Academy. 

Alabama  Conference  :  LaGrange  College. 

Georgia  Conference :  Emory  College,  Georgia  Female  College, 
Georgia  Conference  Manual  Labor  School,  Collingsworth  Insti- 
tute, Wesley  Manual  Labor  School. 

South  Carolina  Conference  :  Cokesbury  Manual  Labor  School, 

Randolph  Macon  College. 

North   Carolina  Conference :   Randolph   Macon  College, 
11 


140 


MANUAL  OF 


Clemonsville  Male  and  Female  Academy,  Greensborongli  Fe- 
male College,  Leesburg  Academy. 

Virginia  Conference :  Randolph  Macon  College,  Female  Col- 
legiate Institute. 

Baltimore  Conference  :  Dickinson  College. 

Philadelphia  Conference  :  Dickinson  College. 

New  Jersey  Conference:  Dickinson  College,  Pennington 
Male  Seminary. 

Regarding  a  course  of  study  for  the  colleges  and  universities 
the  General  Conference  said  they  chose  not  to  lay 

Course  of  */>  J 

study  for  these  down  a  course  that  should  be  uniform.  Trustees 
institutions.  an(j  faculties  must  exercise  discretion  in  this. 
"  There  is  a  wide  and  allowable  difference  of  opinion  upon  the 
subject,  and  an  attempt  to  produce  uniformity  would  be  most 
likely  to  cause  dissatisfaction  without  accomplishing  the  object." 
One  thing  they  highly  recommended :  "  That  the  commonly 
received  English  version  of  the  Bible  should  be  introduced  into 
every  school  and  college,  and  that  it  should  be  studied  accord- 
ing to  some  system  which  may  be  adopted  by  the  different 
boards  of  instruction  in  their  several  institutions;  and  in  those 
institutions  which  embrace  the  ancient  languages  they  recom- 
mended that  the  Old  and  New  Testaments  be  studied  in  the 
originals  critically.  They  also  recommended  that  the  Evidences 
of  Christianity  and  Ecclesiastical  Ui story  constitute  a  part  of 
the  regular  course  in  all  our  colleges  and  universities."  *  The 
standard  raised  by  this  General  Conference  for  the  schools  of 
the  Church  was  fairly  high,  and  has  since  been  greatly  ad- 
vanced. 

8.  The  book  agents  were  instructed  to  open  a  depository  at 
Boston,  Mass.,  Pittsburg.  Pa.,  and  at  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Depositories.  ,     ..'  ^         '  ~     r  T 

The  Virginia  and  JSorth  Carolina  Conference  Jour- 
nal was  accepted  and  ordered  to  be  published  under  the  name 
Richmond  Christian  Advocate.  The  Pittsburg  Conference 
Journal  was  accepted  and  called  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate. 
It  was  directed  that  the  Quarterly  Review  be  enlarged  and 
called  the  Jfethodist  Quarterly  Review.    The  Xew  York  Con- 

*  Journal,  vol.  ii,  p.  ICC. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  147 


ference  was  authorized  to  appoint  the  Book  Committee  at  New 
York,  and  the  Ohio  Conference  to  appoint  that  at  Cincinnati. 
The  Book  Concern  was  to  continue  to  pay  dividends  equally 
to  the  Annual  Conferences  for  the  superannuated  preachers 
and  widows  and  orphans  of  those  that  had  died  in  the  work. 

Nathan  Bangs,  E.  H.  Ames,  and  William  Capers  were  elected 
general  secretaries  of  the  Missionary  Society. 
Thomas  Mason  was  elected  book  agent,  and  George 
Lane  assistant,  at  New  York ;  Jolin  F.  Wright  book  agent,  and 
Leroy  Swormstedt  assistant,  at  Cincinnati.  George  Peck  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Review,  general  books,  and 
tracts.  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond,  a  layman,  was  elected  editor  of 
the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  Youth's  Magazine,  and 
Sunday-school  books,  and  George  Coles  assistant  editor.  Dr. 
Charles  Elliott  was  elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian 
Advocate  and  books  at  the  Western  Book  Concern,  except  of 
the  books  published  in  the  German  language ;  and  Leonidas  L. 
Ilamline  was  chosen  assistant  editor.  William  Nast  was  editor 
of  the  Christian  Apologist  and  of  the  German  publications  at 
Cincinnati.  Charles  A.  Davis  was  elected  editor  of  South- 
western Christian  Advocate,  at  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  William  M. 
Wightman  editor  of  Southern  Christian  Advocate,  at  Charles- 
ton, S.  C. ;  and  Leroy  M.  Lee  editor  of  the  Richmond  Christian 
Advocate,  at  Richmond,  Ya. 

In  the  quantity  and  quality  of  periodical  literature  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  even  then  excelled  all  other  Churches 
in  the  world.  She  has  never  been  left  behind  in  this  regard. 
The  result  of  this  has  been  seen  in  many  ways  and  at  every 
advance  of  the  Church. 

9.  The  power  of  a  presiding  officer  in  an  Annual  or  Quar- 
terly Conference  as  to  the  entertaining  of  a  motion  Power  of  an 
was  defined.  He  "has  the  right  to  decline  putting  STL^ 
the  question  on  a  motion,  resolution,  or  report,  tain  a  motion, 
when,  in  his  judgment,  such  motion,  resolution,  or  report  does 
not  relate  to  the  proper  business  of  a  Conference;"  but  the 
Conference  by  vote,  without  discussion,  may  record  their  dissent, 
which,  as  a  part  of  the  Journal,  goes  to  the  General  Conference. 


148 


MANUAL  OF 


When  the  president  of  an  Annual  or  Quarterly  Conference 
finds  the  business  prescribed  by  the  Discipline  completed  he 
has  a  right  to  adjourn  the  Conference. 

10.  The  Sunday-School  Union  recently  formed  in  Xew  York 
s.  s.  union  was  now  recognized  as  a  part  of  the  working  force 
adopted.       0f       Church,  and  its  constitution  adopted. 

11.  The  Westmoreland  petition  was  the  last  important 
westmore-  matter  acted  upon  by  the  General  Conference  of 
land  petition.  ^§49^  Under  the  rule  that  local  preachers  who  were 
slave-owners  could  not  receive  ordination,  all  the  local  preachers 
within  the  bounds  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  living  in  Vir- 
ginia were  barred  from  ordination.  Fifteen  official  members 
of  the  Westmoreland  Circuit  in  Virginia,  and  about  thirty  others, 
official  members  in  Virginia,  petitioned  the  General  Conference 
for  relief.  The  sal  ject  was  considered,  and  Dr.  Bascom  pre- 
sented the  report  and  resolution,  which  were  adopted.  The 
resolution  claimed  that  the  provisional  exception  of  the  gen- 
eral rule  of  the  Church  on  the  subject  of  slave-holding, 
where  slaves  could  not  be  emancipated,  applied  in  this  case, 
so  that  mere  slave-holding  was  no  bar  to  "  the  election  or 
ordination  of  ministers  to  the  various  grades  of  office  known  in 
the  ministry  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.'' 

This  General  Conference  adjourned  June  3,  1840,  having 
Three  parties  been  in  session  from  May  1.  It  was  an  important 
iathecnurch.  sessjorL  There  were  three  parties  in  the  Church, 
the  extreme  South,  or  pro-slavery  believers ;  the  extreme  Xorth, 
or  ultra-abolitionists;  and  the  conservative  element,  a  large 
body  of  the  Church,  who  stood  between  the  fiery  extremes 
and  sought  to  bring  about  a  permanent  peace.  The  times  were 
trying,  but  had  not  reached  the  limit  of  forbearance.  Years 
must  pass  and  thousands  of  men  perish  before  that  "good 
time"  should  come. 

The  Church  had,  at  the  close  of  the  Conference,  as  re- 
ported, 580,098  members — a  number  doubtless  less  'than  the 
actual  amount ;  2,101  traveling  preachers,  and  4,935  local 
preachers. 

The  bishops  went  out  to  the  Church  seeking,  as  peace- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CIIlTiCII  HISTORY.  149 


makers,  to  bring  all  the  factional  elements  into  harmony.  But 
it  will  be  seen  how  signally  they  failed. 

There  were  great  revivals  in  some  parts  of  the  country, 
notably  where  the  agitation  on  the  slavery  ques- 

.Tii  111  Millerites 

tion  was  not  prominent.  It  has  been  thought  that  and  their 
the  second  advent  movement  under  Miller,  which  influence, 
about  this  time  swept  like  a  great  wave  over  the  land  from  east 
to  west,  had  something  to  do  in  turning  the  attention  of  many 
to  the  need  for  salvation.  "  Mr.  Miller  had  predicted  that  the  per- 
sonal coming  of  Christ,  and  the  destruction  of  the  world,  would 
take  place  in  1843.  He  had  studied  the  prophecies  with  great 
care,  and  had  so  arranged  a  table  of  dates  and  events  as  to  make 
his  statements  appear  quite  plausible.  The  natural  love  of  the 
marvelous  and  the  supernatural  inflamed  the  public  curiosity, 
and,  especially  when  united  with  an  indefinite  fear  of  the  in- 
visible which  instinctively  rises  in  the  mind,  had  greatly  ex- 
cited many  communities.  Many  thought  they  saw  indications 
in  the  skies  of  coining  changes,  and  every  sight  or  sound 
unusual  was  seized  upon  as  an  omen  of  impending  events.  The 
churches  were  more  than  usually  frequented,  and  many,  no 
doubt,  were  seriously  affected."  *  While  many  came  into 
the  Church  during  these  occurrences  there  were  others  who 
made  complete  shipwreck  of  faith,  abandoned  the  Church, 
and  wTent  to  ruin.  This  discussion,  added  to  the  other 
regarding  slavery,  kept  the  public  mind  in  a  state  of  continual 
excitement.  In  many  respects  it  was  a  sitting-time  for  the 
Church. 

Bishop  Morris,  after  a  toilsome  journey  to  reach  the  place, 
formed  the  Texas  Mission  Annual  Conference  at  San  Bishop  Morris 
Augustine,  December  23,  1841,  in  the  Republic  of  iaTexas- 
Texas.  Several  missionaries  had  been  here  for  four  years. 
The  Conference  opened  with  fifteen  members  ;  it  was  re-enforced 
with  four  transfers,  one  re-admitted,  and  three  admitted  on 
trial.  This  gave  them  a  body  of  twenty-three,  though  seven  of 
these  were  on  trial. 

This  Texas  Mission  had  formerly  had  as  its  superintendent 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Tears  of  Methodism,  p.  144. 


150 


MANUAL  OF 


Dr.  Martin  Enter,  who  left  the  honorable  position  of  presi- 
Dr.  Martin  dent  of  Alleghany  College,  Meadville,  Pa.,  for  the 
Ruter.  hard  toil  and  fare  of  a  frontier  missionary's  life. 

Here  he  died  May  16,  1838.  On  his  return  journey  Bishop 
Morris  visited  the  grave  of  this  great,  scholarly,  godly  man. 

The  work  of  the  Liberia  Mission  did  not  run  smoothly.  It 
rue  nbeiia  became  involved  in  a  difficulty  with  the  colonial 
Mission  in   government.    The  colony  "was  financially  weak, 

trouble. 

our  Mission  had  been  liberally  supported,  and  the 
superintendent  of  it  had  more  money  than  the  governor."  * 
Rev.  John  Seys  was  the  superintendent.  He  asked  the 
Church  for  machinery  for  a  saw-mill  as  the  thing  then  most 
needed.  It  was  sent  to  him,  but  the  impecunious  governor 
seized  it  and  demanded  regular  duty.  This  was  contrary  to 
agreement.  The  board  refused  to  pay  the  duty  and  suspended 
further  efforts.  The  Colonization  Society  took  the  matter  up 
against  the  Mission  and  Rev.  Mr.  Seys.  They  demanded  that 
he  should  be  recalled.  They  intimated  that  if  he  was  not 
recalled  he  would  be  forcibly  compelled  to  retire.  Dr.  Peck 
met  the  officers  of  the  society  and  showed  them  that  Mr.  Seys 
was  not  the  aggressor.  Peace  was  restored  at  home  and  in  the 
colony.  The  Mission,  however,  had  received  such  a  blow  that 
it  was  years  in  recovering.  The  Missionary  Society  has  spent 
much  money  on  Africa,  and  the  returns  are  small.  Still  the 
cry  of  Melville  B.  Cox  is  heard  ringing  in  Methodist  ears, 
"  Though  a  thousand  fall,  let  not  Africa  be  given  up." 

Complaint  was  raised  against  the  Oregon  Mission  among 
the  Indians  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It 

Missionin 

Oregon  great-  was  "  accused  of  having  become  too  secular  in  its 
measures."  The  superintendent,  Rev.  Jason  Lee, 
a  man  well  adapted  to  the  work,  had  secured  land  to  quite  an 
extent  for  the  Mission.  Greedy  explorers,  who  saw  the  pos- 
sessions of  the  Mission,  and  coveted  them,  raised  a  cry  against 
the  Mission.  An  attempt  was  made  to  create  dissatisfaction 
with  the  administration  of  mission  funds.  Falsehood  and 
every  other  means  possible  were  employed  to  break  down  this 

*  Life  and  Times  of  George  Peck,  p.  233. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  151 


work  of  God  among  the  dusky  race.  There  soon  occurred 
great  changes  in  Oregon.  The  country  was  good.  Iin migra- 
tion poured  in.  The  Mission,  as  such,  proved  a  present  failure, 
but  the  work  became  the  nucleus  of  the  Oregon  Conference, 
with  its  excellent  churches,  its  university,  and  seminaries,  its 
thousands  of  members,  and  its  happy  Christian  homes. 

During  these  years  Methodism  was  not  idle  in  her  educa- 
tional movements.    At  Delaware,  O.,  was  founded,   „ .  _  . 

'       '  '    Ohio  Wesley- 

in  1842,  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  University.  The  citi-  an  university 
zens  offered  a  handsome  property  known  as  "  White 
Sulphur  Springs,"  with  $10,000  in  cash,  to  the  Ohio  and  North 
Ohio  Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  the 
location  for  a  college.  The  offer  was  accepted.  The  school 
was  chartered  as  a  university  November  13, 1844,  and  the  doors 
Avere  opened  with  a  number  of  students.  Rev.  Edward  Thom- 
son, D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  the  first  president.  An  efficient  faculty 
was  selected.  For  sixteen  years  Thomson  served  them,  going 
then  to  The  Christian  Advocate  as  editor.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Frederick  Merrick,  who  was  followed  by  Dr.  L.  D. 
McCabe  as  acting  president,  he  by  Dr.  C.  II.  Payne,  and 
he  by  J.  W.  Bashford,  D.D.  It  is  one  of  the  great  schools  of 
western  Methodism. 

The  hope  that  the  agitation  concerning  abolitionism  and 
slavery  would  cease  was  altogether  delusive.  It  was  dissipated 
very  soon  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Conference. 
Even  before  the  General  Conference  of  1840  the  vain  hope  for 
early  planted  seeds  of  secession  sprang  up  and  gave  Peace- 
indications  of  fruit.  Some  lesser  conventions  of  abolitionists 
were  held ;  but  the  great  one  was  held  in  New  York,  October  6, 
1840.  Some  desired  to  bring  extremes  together,  and  "  harmonize 
the  many  views."  The  results  showed  the  equal  propriety  of 
harmonizing  two  cyclones  !  Within  the  New  Hampshire  Con- 
ference had  been  formed  the  "  Wesleyan  Antislavery  Society," 
which  saw  the  tendency  of  the  ultra-agitators  to  secession ;  but 
still  they  were  abolitionists.  Garrison,  in  Massachusetts,  led 
the  "  American  and  Foreign  Antislavery  Society,"  into  which 
it  was  desired  to  introduce  the  doctrines  of  "  woman's  rights, 


152 


MANUAL  OF 


non-resistance,  the. Church  as  apostate,  the  ministry,  the  Sab- 
bath." Here  was  jargon  confounded  !  This  society  declared 
that  "  the  American  Church  has  given  its  undisguised  sanction 
and  support  to  the  system  of  American  slavery."  There  was 
also  the  "  Massachusetts  Abolition  Society." 

The  New  York  Abolition  Convention  was  held  October  6, 
1840.    About  two  hundred  delegates  were  present. 

Abolition  con-  . 

vent  ion  in  lhey  met  in  the  .Baptist  Church  id  Macdougal  Street. 
Newiork.  Orange  Scott  was  president.  In  this  convention  was 
organized  the  "  xYmeriean  Wesleyan  Antislavery  Society."  It 
was  not  chary  about  giving  publicity  to  its  tenets.  The  second 
article  in  the  constitution  reads :  "  The  objects  of  this  society 
are  the  entire  extinction  of  slavery  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  America,  and  thereby  to  aid  in  that  great  national 
enterprise  now  in  successful  progress — its  entire  extinction  in 
the  United  States."  Secession  from  the  Church  was  advocated. 
A  few  were  hoping  that  this  society  might  be  the  nucleus 
around  which  they  might  gather  as  a  new  Church. 

A  few  congregations  had,  even  earlier  than  this,  seceded. 
In  Cleveland,  O.,  in  1839,  a  small  secession  occurred 

Sec6ssions. 

on  account  of  abolitionism.  Another  at  Monroe,  O., 
in  1839,  and  another  at  Williamsfield,  O.,  in  18-10.  In  Michigan, 
the  first,  in  1839,  was  confined  to  individuals.  In  February, 
1811,  five  classes  in  Wayne  County  seceded.  These  seceders 
in  Michigan  met  in  convention  May  13,  1841,  and  called  them- 
selves "  Wesleyan  Methodists." 

It  is  a  wonder  that  any  revival  spirit  was  abroad  in  these 
times.  "With  the  New  England  Christian  Advocate, 
edited  by  Luther  Lee,  at  Lowell,  Mass. ;  Orange  Scott 
and  Leroy  Sunderland  writing  in  Zions  Watchman,  at  Boston ; 
The  Wesleyan  Observer  and  Watchman,  hardly  knowing  what 
to  advocate  and  what  to  condemn ;  Zioiis  Herald,  under  Abel 
Stevens,  manfully  striving  for  the  old  paths  and  former  faith ; 
the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  at  New  York,  always 
loyal  to  the  Church  as  expounded  by  the  General  Conference, 
"  were  enough  to  confound  the  intellect  and  jumble  the  judg- 
ment" of  more  than  men. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  153 


From  this  time  to  the  8th  of  November,  1842,  the  discussion 
was  carried  on  in  the  fiercest  maimer.  All  preliminary  steps 
had  been  taken  for  a  secession.  On  that  date  Jotham  Ilorton, 
Orange  Scott,  and  Leroy  Sunderland  withdrew  from  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  The  same  month  the  True  Wesley  an 
was  issued,  with  Ilorton  and  Scott  as  editors.  On  its  first 
page  was  the  document  entitled,  "Withdrawal  from  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church."  The  reasons  alleged  for  withdraw- 
ing were:  "1.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  Reasons  for 
not  only  a  slave-holding,  but  a  slavery-defending  secedin&- 
Church.  2.  The  government  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  contains  principles  not  laid  down  in  the  Scriptures  nor 
recognized  in  the  usages  of  the  primitive  Church — principles 
which  are  subversive  of  the  rights  both  of  ministers  and 
laymen."  * 

Mr.  Scott  let  only  a  few  choice  friends  into  the  secret  of  his 
withdrawal  until  he  had  it  so  completed,  and  bridges  scott's  witn- 
so  burned  behind,  that  there  was  no  opportunity  for  drawaL 
retreat.  Even  Luther  Lee,  who  had  been  one  of  the  stanchest 
abolitionists,  and  had  left  the  traveling  ministry  on  account  of 
it,  was  not  informed  of  or  consulted  about  the  movement  of 
Scott.  This  was  one  of  Scott's  methods.  However,  Lee  and  a 
number  of  others  followed  Scott  and  Sunderland  into  secession. 

The  same  paper  that  announced  the  "  secession  proclamation  " 
of  Scott,  Sunderland,  and  Ilorton,  contained  a  call  for  a  con- 
vention of  all  Methodist  abolitionists  to  assemble  at  Utica,  JSr.  Y., 
May  31,  1843,  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  new  Church  on 
antislavery  abolition  principles.  The  time  from  the  issue  of 
the  call  for  the  convention  was  taken  up  with  lesser  assemblages 
in  different  parts  of  New  England  and  New  York,  by  the  de- 
livery of  lectures,  addresses,  sermons,  and  the  publishing  of 
fiery  articles  from  week  to  week  in  the  abolition  papers,  of 
tracts  sent  like  a  flood  over  the  country,  and  by  an  unusual 
amount  of  individual  chimney-corner  discussion. 

Within  the  New  England  Conference  an  abolition  conven- 
tion was  held  in  Boston,  January  18, 1843.   Eighteen  resolutions 

*  The  Great  Secession,  p  240. 


154 


MANUAL  OF 


were  adopted.    It  was  attempted  to  show  that  none  need  join 
the  Scottites,  as  thev  could  be  good  abolitionists 

Abolition  ,  *  " 

convention  and  stay  in  the  Methodist  Church.  The  conven- 
in  Boston.  ^n  ^  Harwell,  Me.,  February  22,  was  no  better 
than  the  Boston  convention.  A  layman  afterward  contended 
that  the  lay  members  of  Maine  did  not  wish  to  secede.  At 
Claremont,  X.  II.,  a  convention  was  held  March  22,  but  this 
had  little  influence. 

To  gain  a  good  idea  of  the  confusion  existing  in  New  En- 
Dr. Stevenson  gland  at  this  time,  and  the  amount  of  unrestrained 
the  confusion.  fanaticis[n  tjiat  inflamed  the  public  mind,  read  Dr. 
Abel  Stevens's  editorial  of  March  29, 1843.  "  Never  was  there, 
perhaps,"  writes  Stevens,  "  on  any  equal  portion  of  the  globe, 
more  religious  distraction  and  novelties  than  at  present  infects 
Xew  England  ;  and  a  fearful  result  is  now  arresting  the  atten- 
tion of  observing  men,  namely,  that  in  this  most  free,  most  en- 
lightened, most  moral,  and  —  in  pecuniary  respects  —  most 
competent  portion  of  the  earth,  is  found  a  larger  ratio  of  insan- 
ity than  is  to  be  found  anywhere  else  on  the  globe ;  and  that 
among  the  States  of  New  England,  Massachusetts,  the  best  off 
of  them  all,  presents  a  larger  ratio  than  any  of  the  others.  Any 
species  of  humbug,  whether  it  relates  to  science,  religion,  or 
business,  can  command  its  champions.  In  such  a  state  of  the 
jmblic  mind  nothing  is  secure  ;  no  one  can  predict  how  far  the 
agitations  in  our  own  Church  may  extend." 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  within  the  ranks  of  the  extreme 
abolitionists  there  were  discord  and  very  diverse  opinions. 
There  were  godless,  worldly,  secularized,  political  abolitionists 
who  were  not  of  the  Church,  who  linked  anti-Sabbath,  anti- 
clergy,  and  woman's  rights  with  abolitionism,  and  secured 
a  place  in  the  conventions.  They  sometimes  called  them- 
selves "  Come-outers."  Some  of  them  petitioned  the  Massachu- 
setts legislature  to  do  away  capital  punishment,  or  "  to  transfer 
the  office  of  hangman  from  the  sheriff  to  the  clergy.'''  *  But 
the  abolitionists  in  the  Church  must  not  be  charged  with  all 
these  novelties. 

*  The  Great  Secession,  p.  253. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  155 

The  convention  called  by  Scott,  Sunderland,  and  Ilorton 
assembled  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  May  31,  1843.  Orange  utica  con_ 
Scott  was  elected  president  of  the  convention,  lie  vention- 
was  a  recognized  leader  and  a  moving  spirit.  He  was  an  ad- 
vocate of  an  episcopacy  limited  in  power.  A  portion  of  the 
convention  favored  Congregationalism,  deeming  that  the  abso- 
lute  independence  of  each  congregation  was  the  panacea  for 
all  church  ills.  Luther  Lee  led  a  party  favoring  a  medium 
ground  combining  the  excellences  of  itinerancy  and  Congre- 
gationalism as  far  as  possible.  Unexpectedly  a  new  element 
of  discord  was  injected.  From  Pittsburg  came  Rev.  Edward 
Smith,  who  demanded  a  rule  in  the  Discipline,  "  excluding  all 
members  of  secret  societies  from  the  Church."  Scott,  Leroy 
Sunderland,  and  Horton  were  Freemasons.  When  Smith  and 
these  men  met  in  the  debate  it  was  the  meeting  of  "  steel  to 
steel."  Smith,  finding  that  he  could  not  carry  his  project  into 
the  Discipline,  called  upon  his  followers  to  secede  from  the 
seceders.  Luther  Lee,  who  was  a  Mason,  but  had  been  quiet 
during  the  discussion,  now  came  forward  with  a  compromise 
proposition  advising  the  people  not  to  join  secret  societies. 
"This  I  offered  as  a  compromise,"  says  Lee,  "and  enforced  it 
by  the  best  speech  I  was  capable  of  making.  My  extreme 
solicitude  to  secure  an  organization  enabled  me  to  throw  some 
pathos  into  my  effort,  and  by  shedding  a  few  tears — some  others 
shed  tears  because  I  did — my  rule  was  adopted  by  a  handsome 
majority."  * 

The  proposed  Church  was  formally  organized.  It  was  called 
the  "  Wesleyan  Methodist  Connection  of  America."  Wesleyan 
Afterward  it  was  called  the  "  Wesleyan  Methodist    church  or- 

i  •«      *      i  •  .  t  t  ganized. 

Church.  At  this  convention  was  adopted  a  disci- 
pline" and  plan  of  church  government.  Many  of  I  he  Articles  of 
Religion  and  General  Rules  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
were  adopted.  Their  chapter  and  rule  on  slavery  was  very  strin- 
gent. The  episcopacy  and  presiding-eldership  were  discarded. 
They  provided  to  elect  a  chairman  for  a  district  and  a  president 
for  an  Annual  and  General  Conference.   A  stationing  committee 

*  Autobiography  of  the  Rev.  Luther  Lee,  p.  249. 


156 


MANUAL  OF 


was  to  make  the  appointments,  the  Conference  making  final 
decision.  Negotiations  for  preachers  were  granted  the  congre- 
gations. Ministers,  local  preachers,  and  laymen  had  their  own 
representatives.  The  convention  formed  six  Annual  Confer- 
ences, and  appointed  presidents  in  each.  There  were  about 
three  hundred  ministers  and  local  preachers  claimed  as  adhering 
to  the  new  Church,  and  about  six  thousand  members. 

The  True  Wesley an  was  recognized  as  the  church  organ,  and 
Orange  Scott  was  the  editor,  and  also  became  the  head  of  their 
Book  Concern. 

The  first  General  Conference  of  the  "Wesleyan  Methodist 
First  General  Church  "  was  held  in  Cleveland,  O.,  October,  1844, 
conference  of  over  which  Luther  Lee  was  elected  president.  The 

the  Wesleyan  .  •  . 

Methodist  secret  society  question  was  again  sprung,  and  came 
church.  near  causing  another  secession.  Luther  Lee  was 
elected  editor  of  the  True  Wesleyan.  Orange  Scott  died  at 
Newark,  K  J.,  July  81,  1847. 

The  second  Wesleyan  General  Conference  was  held  in  1848, 
M  m     in  New  York.    Daniel  Worth  w-as  the  president, 

Second   Wes-  * 

leyan  General  and  L.  C.  Matlack  secretary.    Lee  was  again  chosen 

Conference.  »  ,-,    .      •,  -, 

editor  oi  their  church  paper. 
The  third  General  Conference  was  held  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
in  October.  1852.    A  question  came  to  this  from  the 

ThirdWes-  '  1 

leyan  General  former  General  Conference  which  caused  great  dis- 
conference.  turbance.  The  question  was  as  to  the  relative  powers 
of  the  laymen  and  ministry.  One  party  held  to  the  superiority 
of  the  ministry,  the  other  to  the  equality  of  laymen  with  them. 

The  fourth  General  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan  Church  was 
Fourth  wes-  held  in  Cleveland,  O.,  October,  1856,  and  Luther 

levan  General  T  .  ,  . 

conference.    Lee  was  again  president. 

„  -  ilu  „  The  fifth  Wesleyan  General  Conference  was  held 

Fifth  Wes-  J 

leyan  General  in  Fulton,  N.  Y.,  October,  1860,  L.  C.  Matlack,  pres- 

Conference.      .  ,  , 

ident. 

sixth  wes-      The  sixth  General  Conference  wras  held  in  Adrian, 

leyan  General 

conference.    Mich.    Luther  Lee  was  elected  president. 

We  have  followed  this  Church  in  its  history  from  the  time 
of  its  secession  in  1842,  on  account  of  slavery,  until  the  mon- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  157 


ster  evil  and  cause  of  trouble  was  entirely  broken  by  the  ar- 
bitrament of  war,  and  the  "Emancipation  Proclamation"  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
had  remained  firm  to  its  early  principles,  and  had  come  at  last  to 
be  free  from  slavery.  Now  what  will  the  Wesleyan  Connec- 
tion do  ? 

In  1867  Luther  Lee  and  a  number  of  the  Wesleyan  preach- 
ers returned  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  L.Lee  returns 
were  received  by  the  Detroit  Conference  of  the  e°p  op  a i 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Saginaw  City,  Mich,  church. 

In  1843  the  Church  lost  its  senior  bishop,  R.  R.  Roberts, 
who  died  March  26,  at  his  farm  in  Lawrence  County,  The  d 
Ind.  His  remains  were  removed  to  Greencastle,  Ind.,  of  Bishop 
and  interred  on  the  university  campus.  The  Methodist 
preachers  of  Indiana  erected  a  marble  monument  over  his  grave? 
which  stands  as  an  evidence  of  the  great  respect  in  which  he 
was  held  in  the  Church.  Bishop  Robert  Richford  Roberts 
was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Md.,  August  2,  1778.  When 
about  fifteen  years  of  age  he  was  converted  and  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  first  sermon  was 
preached  in  1801,  and  in  1802  he  entered  the  Baltimore  Con- 
ference. Lie  was  deemed  a  diligent  pastor  and  a  good  though 
not  brilliant  preacher.  As  a  presiding  elder  he  was  remarkably 
successful.  After  Bishop  Asbury's  death  he  was  appointed  to 
preside  over  the  Philadelphia  Conference  at  its  session  in  1816. 
The  same  year  the  General  Conference  elected  him  a  bishop. 
Mild  but  firm,  never  in  a  hurry  but  always  busy,  simple 
in  manner,  plain  in  speech,  careful  in  giving  an  opinion,  he 
endeared  himself  to  the  Church.  No  man  was  held  in  higher 
respect,  and  to  no  one's  opinions  were  given  more  weight  in  its 
councils. 

During  the  years  of  the  Wesleyan  secession  in  New  England 
and  New  York,  the  South  had  been  comparatively  TheSoutnand 
tranquil.  In  the  periodicals  there  had  been  some  the  slavery 
defense  of  slavery  as  against  the  ultra  views  of  Scott, 
Lee,  Sunderland,  and  others.  The  criticisms  on  the  Utica  Con- 
vention and  on  the  formation  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church 


158 


MANUAL  OF 


were  severe.  Dr.  Wightman,  in  the  Southern  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, Charleston,  S.  C,  in  a  strong-  article,  claimed  that  the 
Southern  Conferences  en  masse  maintained  the  principles  set 
forth  by  the  South  Carolina  Conference  in  1838  in  her  reso- 
lution "that  the  subject  of  slavery  in  these  United  States  is 
not  one  proper  for  the  action  of  the  Church,  but  is  wholly 
appropriate  to  the  civil,  and  not  to  ecclesiastical  judicatories. 
The  Conference  regrets  that  it  has  ever  been  introduced  in  any 
form  into  any  one  of  the  judicatories  of  the  Church."  Regard- 
ing this  as  the  universal  sentiment  of  the  Southern  Conferences 
Mr.  Wightman  strongly  urged  them  to  stand  by  it.  "This 
resolution,"  says  he,  "  maintains  the  doctrine  of  the  unmixed 
spiritual  organization  of  the  Church;  it  affirms  the  exclusively 
spiritual  and  religious  nature  of  its  designs." 

At  the  close  of  this  quadrenninm  Dr.  Elliott  sums  up  the 
state  of  affairs  in  this  clear  manner:  1.  "There  was 

Elliott  s  re- 
view of  af-    what  may  be  called  the  Church  proper,  or  the  Con- 
ferences in  the  Middle  States — New  York  and  the 
"West — who  maintained  the  Discipline  as  it  is,  and  were  deter- 
mined it  should  not  be  altered  or  practically  nulli- 
fied.     These  were  strongly  antislavery,  but  not 
abolitionists  in  the  recent  American  use  of  that  term.  They 
were  not  pro-slavery,  or  apologists  for  slavery;  though  they 
believed  men  might  be  slave-holders  without  being  sinners  on 
that  account. 

2.  "There  was  the  abolition  party  in  the  Church,  confined 

principally  to  the  New  England  Conferences.  These, 

Abolition.        \       ,  .  f  „   ,        ,    ,  ,. 

tor  the  most  part,  believed  all  slave-holding  to  be  sin, 
and  all  slave-holders  to  be  sinners;  or  they  so  taught,  defined, 
and  made  abstract  distinctions  of  such  kind,  that  they  virtually, 
if  not  intentionally,  placed  all  slave-holders  in  the  class  of  sin- 
ners. They  also  thought  the  Church  to  be  greatly  corrupted 
in  the  South  with  the  sin  of  slavery. 

3.  "There  was  also  the  Southern  party,  who,  as  a  whole,  at 

this  period  we  cannot  place  in  the  list  of  pro-slavery 

Pro-slavery.  1  x  1 

men.  Uut  they  were  not  truly  antislavery.  lhey 
seem  to  have  yielded  to  the  pro  slavery  influence  around  them 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  159 


so  far  as  to  give  up,  or  liold  loosely,  their  ant isla very  senti- 
ments. They  yielded,  or  began  to  yield,  the  things  of  God  to 
Caesar,  overlooking  our  Lord's  command,  '  Render  to  Caesar 
the  things  of  Caesar,  and  to  God  the  tilings  of  God.'  They 
ceased  to  claim  as  a  right  the  great  principle  that  the  civil 
power  is  supreme  only  in  civil  matters,  and  the  ecclesiastical 
power  is  supreme  in  moral  and  religious  matters.  As  a  claim, 
too,  they  set  up  the  plea  for  a  slave- holding  hishop.  "  * 

Numerically  the  Church  had  advanced  during  the  four  years 
astonishing  v.   There  had  been  an  increase  of  590,000 

i  rm  1  i       1  •  i    .  ,^  '    n  Statistics. 

members,  lhc  total  membership  stood,  1,171,356. 
The  traveling  preachers  were  4,021,  local  preachers,  8,087. 
Church-building  under  the  stimulus  of  the  centennial  celebra- 
tion  of  October,  1839,  had  taken  a  start  which  has  not  ceased 
to  the  present.  Men  of  means  were  learning  the  spirit  of  lib- 
erality. The  missionary,  Sunday-school,  tract,  and  Bible 
causes  were  receiving  money  as  never  before.  The  ministry 
were  feeling  very  graciously  these  enlarged  views  of  duty  in 
better  support.  In  the  older  Conferences  the  work  was  strength- 
ened. In  the  new  Conferences  the  pioneering  was  extending 
the  borders  until  every  foot  of  land  occupied  by  the  hardy 
pioneer  was  occupied  by  the  Church. 

*  The  Great  Secession,  pp.  284,  285. 


160 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTEE  XX. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1844 — ITS  DOINGS. 

The  fifteenth  General,  and  ninth  Delegated  Conference 
met  in  New  York  city  May  1,  1814.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  Historically  it  was 
a  pivotal  point  not  only  in  the  history  of  American  Methodism, 
but  in  the  religious  controversies  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
in  the  gigantic  secessions  in  Church  and  State,  and  the  begin- 
ning of  the  end  of  one  of  the  most  stupendous  domestic  insti- 
tutions that  has  ever  enchained  a  land  or  enslaved  a  race. 

The  General  Conference  was  composed  of  180  delegates  from 
the  Conferences  as  follows:  New  York,  11;  Baltimore,  10; 
New  Hampshire,  Genesee,  Ohio,  Indiana,  each  8  ;  Maine,  Troy, 
Oneida,  Pittsburg,  each  7 ;  Kentucky,  Georgia,  Philadelphia, 
each  6 ;  New  England,  Erie,  North  Ohio,  Illinois,  South  Caro- 
lina, New  Jersey,  each,  5  ;  Providence,  Black  Piver,  Michigan, 
Pock  Piver,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Memphis,  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama, Virginia,  each  4 ;  Holston,  Arkansas,  North  Carolina, 
each  3 ;  and  Texas,  2.  From  slave-holding  States,  counting 
Texas,  62  delegates;  from  non-slave-holding  States,  118  dele- 
gates. 

Bishop  Soule  was  now  the  senior  bishop,  and  presided  at  the 
opening.  The  other  bishops,  Hedding,  Andrew,  Waugh,  and 
Morris,  were  present,  and  presided  in  turn  during  the  sessions. 
Thomas  B.  Sargent  was  elected  secretary  and  James  B.  Hough- 
taling  and  Wesley  Kenney  assistant  secretaries. 

On  the  second  day  Bishop  Soule  presented  and  read  the 
address  of  the  bishops,"  which  is  an  interesting  document,  espe- 
cially as  it  is  a  statement  of  the  condition  of  the  Church  imme- 
diately succeeding  the  Northern  secession  and  preceding  the 
Southern  secession. 

*  Journal,  vol.  ii.  pp.  151-172. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  161 


The  delegates  were  counseled  to  remember  moderation  in  deal- 
ing with  delicate  questions,  since  they  were  not  le<ns- 

,  ,  ,  .ii.  Analysis  of 

lating  for  the  present  only,  but  for  millions  yet  un-  the  address 
born  ;  that  excessive  legislation  and  frequent  changes  of  blsllops* 
of  laws  in  a  representative  body  do  not  tend  to  give  stability  to 
Church  or  State ;  that  the  itinerancy  is  an  essential  element  of  the 
Methodistic  system  of  preaching  the  Gospel ;  that  a  "moderate 
episcopacy,"  like  that  of  Methodism,  is  a  part  of  the  itinerant 
plan ;  that  the  presiding  of  bishops  in  the  General  and  Annual 
Conferences  are  under  different  relations,  the  General  Conference 
— the  supreme  judicatory — being  not  subject  to  the  official  direc- 
tion and  control  of  the  president  only  so  far  as  is  necessary  to 
preserve  decorum  and  order  in  business,  but  in  the  Annual  Con- 
ference— a  subordinate  organization — the  rights  and  powers  are 
defined,  and  the  bishop  presiding  in  official  oversight  is  respon- 
sible for  order,  decorum,  innovations,  the  bringing  forward  of 
business,  and  the  following  strictly  the  laws  of  the  Church  ;  that 
he  chooses,  appoints,  and  changes  presiding  elders,  and  fixes  the 
appointments  of  the  preachers ;  that  the  episcopacy  is  not  dio- 
cesan or  sectional,  but  is  general  superintendency,  itinerant  and 
not  local;  that  to  increase  the  efficiency  of  the  ministry  the 
term  of  probation  should  be  extended  to  four  years ;  that  a  sim- 
ple, uniform,  and  stable  system  of  finances  is  necessary  to  the 
proper  conduct  of  the  Church,  by  which  it  may  be  freed  from 
fluctuations  and  poverty ;  that  the  German  missions  have  in- 
creased and  prospered  beyond  all  calculations,  and  are  begin- 
ning to  be  felt  in  the  Fatherland;  that  some  legislation  is 
necessary  to  the  proper  conduct  of  the  domestic  missions,  par- 
ticular attention  to  be  given  to  the  Indian  missions  for  the 
purpose  of  detecting  the  influences  that  are  hostile  to  the 
present  work  among  them  and  correct  the  evils  as  far  as  possi- 
ble. The  address  pointed  out,  also,  the  fact  that  the  spiritual 
condition  of  the  people  of  color  has  been  long  and  greatly 
neglected  by  the  Christian  Church  ;  that  a  necessity  exists  for 
heroic  treatment  of  the  schools  and  colleges  by  which  they 
shall  be  relieved  from  debts,  placed  on  a  sound  financial  basis, 

and  that  others  shall  not  be  established  except  on  a  basis  of 
12 


162 


MANUAL  OF 


support  tliat  will  not  involve  loss.  It  also  urged  the  improve- 
ment of  our  ministry  in  biblical  literature  and  general  theolog- 
ical science,  and  diffusion  of  useful  and  general  knowledge 
among  the  people  of  the  Church ;  called  attention  to  the  en- 
croachments of  papal  Rome,  its  refusal  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
to  the  masses  as  the  only  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith ;  the  High 
Church  pretensions,  which,  if  sustained  by  the  authority  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  would  leave  no  valid  Christian  ministry  out- 
side of  an  uninterrupted  line  of  descent ;  the  call  of  men  to  the 
ministry  by  the  Holy  Spirit ;  the  demands  of  the  times  that  the 
Holy  Scriptures  shall  be  disseminated  as  the  precious  oracles  of 
God  ;  the  establishment  of  a  biblical  department  in  all  our 
official  journals ;  the  high  claims  of  the  "American  Bible  Soci- 
ety;" Sunday-school  instruction  as  one  of  the  many  auxiliaries 
for  the  prevention  of  the  destructive  influence  of  error  by  pre- 
occupying the  young  mind  with  the  germs  of  scriptural  truth ; 
the  interests  of  the  Book  Concern.  These  were  topics  treated 
by  the  bishops  in  their  address  and  urged  upon  the  attention  of 
the  General  Conference. 

The  General  Conference  moved  on  quietly  in  its  business 
until  the  7th  of  May,  when  the  appeal  case  of  the  Rev.  Francis 
A.  Harding  from  a  decision  of  the  Baltimore  Conference  was 
presented.  The  consideration  of  this  case  lasted  parts  of  five 
days,  and  in  some  sense  was  introductory  to  that  of  Bishop 
Andrew. 

Rev.  Francis  A.  Harding,  a  member  of  the  Baltimore  Con- 
Harding's  ference,  married  a  wife  who  owned  slaves.  Einan- 
case.  cipation,  if  practicable,  was  required  by  the  Disci- 

pline. It  was  decided  practicable  where  lie  resided.  This  was 
the  usage  in  the  Baltimore  Conference,  and  the  Conference 
passed  resolutions  requiring  it  to  be  done.  But  Mr.  Harding 
refused  to  emancipate.  He  was  arraigned  before  his  Confer- 
ence, and  after  trial  was  suspended  from  the  ministry.  He  ap- 
pealed to  the  General  Conference.  "  The  grounds  of  appeal 
assumed  by  Mr.  Harding  were  :  1.  That  according  to  the  laws 
of  Maryland  he  was  not  the  owner  of  the  slaves  ;  they  were 
held  by  his  wife  by  descent  from  her  parents.    2.  The  laws  of 


XETIIODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


1C3 


Maryland  did  not  allow  the  liberated  slaves  to  enjoy  freedom, 
and  under  the  rule  of  Discipline  lie  was  not  required  to  comply 
with  the  condition  of  the  Conference ;  and,  therefore,  the 
pledge  required  was  impracticable,  and  contrary  to  the  rule  of 
Discipline.  3.  The  practical  results  would  he  inhuman,  as  the 
demand,  if  acceded  to,  would  separate  parents  and  children, 
which  a  conscientious  man  could  not  do." 

The  case  was  presented  by  Dr.  W.  A.  Smith  in  his  best  and 
strongest  manner,  depending  upon  four  grounds  :  1.  No  rule 
of  Discipline  was  violated  by  Mr.  Harding.  2.  The  rule  of  the 
Church  makes  provision  in  his  favor.  3.  The  Annual  Confer- 
ence has  sanctioned  the  construction  that  the  Discipline  does 
not  require  emancipation,  as  shown  by  the  decision  in  the 
Westmoreland  petition.  4.  The  spirit,  no  more  than  the  letter, 
of  the  Discipline  justifies  the  Baltimore  Conference  in  suspend- 
ing Mr.  Harding  from  the  ministry.  During  the  argument  Dr. 
Smith  took  occasion  to  justify  slavery,  saying,  "slavery  is  a 
great  evil,  but  beyond  our  control ;  yet  not  necessarily  a  sin." 

John  A.  Collins  defended  the  action  of  the  Baltimore  Confer- 
ence in  his  strong  and  logical  manner.  Mr.  Collins  presented 
four  positions  against  the  arguments  of  Mr.  Smith,  to  wit : 
1.  The  laws  of  Maryland  do  admit  of  manumission,  and  specify 
the  course  to  be  followed  with  reference  to  manumitted  slaves. 
1)  Go  to  Africa.  2)  Go  to  free  States.  3)  Or  the  sheriff  is  re- 
quired to  take  the  manumitted  beyond  the  bounds  of  the  State. 
They  cannot  he  again  enslaved.    Once  free,  free  forever. 

2.  The  Discipline  is  against  Mr.  Harding,  for  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  contemplates  its  members  in  a  threefold  view. 
1)  As  private  members.  2)  As  local  preachers.  S)  As  trav- 
eling preachers.  As  regards  legislation  on  the  matter  of  slav- 
ery, the  rule  is  stringent  regarding  a  traveling  preacher,  requir- 
ing a  legal  emancipation  of  his  slaves  conformable  to  the  laws 
of  the  State  in  which  he  lives. 

3.  The  construction  of  the  Discipline  in  the  Westmoreland 
petition  did  not  refer  to  traveling,  but  local  preachers. 

4.  The  spirit  of  the  Discipline,  as  well  as  the  letter,  was  all 
against  Mr.  Harding. 


104 


MANUAL  OF 


As  reasons  why  the  Baltimore  Conference  was  justified  in 
suspending  Mr.  Harding,  Mr.  Collins  said  :  1)  Mr.  Harding 
violated  the  Discipline  in  refusing  to  manumit  his  skives. 
2)  He  entered  into  this  difficulty  voluntarily.  He  was  not  a 
slave-holder  when  the  Baltimore  Conference  received  him  on 
trial,  and  they  ordained  him  deacon  and  elder  while  a  non- 
slave-holder.  3)  Mr.  Harding  took  this  course  knowingly.  He 
knew  the  laws  of  Maryland  as  to  emancipation.  4)  In  becom- 
ing a  slave-holder  he  rendered  himself  unavailable  as  a  traveling 
preacher.  5)  The  position  the  Baltimore  Conference  has  ever 
occupied  on  the  subject  of  slavery  forbids  indulgence  to  one 
individual  that  it  could  not  give  to  all. 

The  case  having  been  fully  presented  by  both  sides  John 
Early,  of  the  Virginia  Conference,  moved  "that  the  act  of  the 
Baltimore  Annual  Conference  by  which  F.  A.  Harding  was 
suspended  from  his  ministerial  functions  be,  and  the  same  is, 
hereby  reversed."  On  taking  a  vote  it  was  found  that  only  56 
voted  to  reverse,  while  117  voted  to  sustain  the  action  of  the 
Conference.  Bishop  Morris  was  presiding  when  the  vote  was 
taken.  He  decided  that  the  vote  u  virtually  affirmed  the  action 
of  the  Baltimore  Annual  Conference  in  suspending  Francis  A. 
Harding  from  his  ministerial  standing." 

William  Capers  took  an  appeal  from  this  decision  of  the 
Bishop  Morris  chair,  but  the  chair  was  sustained  by  a  vote  of  111 

sustained.        to  53  * 

This  decision  of  the  majority  in  the  Harding  case  caused 

Effect  of  the 

the  Southern  members  to  take  "  umbrage,"  for  they 
the'Hardiug  considered  it  as  the  commencement  of  a  stand  against 
case.  the  encroachments  of  slavery.    Said  "W.  A.  Smith, 

"I  wish  my  protest  to  go  forth  to  the  American  Church  and 
American  people  to  serve  as  a  beacon-light  to  warn  the  Church 
against  the  movements  of  a  majority  who  can  obliterate  justice 
and  trample  on  the  rights  of  a  minority. "  f 

♦See  Great  Secession,  pp.  285-291.  Also  Journal,  vol.  ii,  pp.  29-34.  For 
names  of  the  voters  see  Journal  vol.  ii,  pp.  33,  34.  See  Hundred  Years  of  Meth- 
odism, p.  147,  etc.  ;  Life  and  Times  of  George  Peck,  p.  240,  etc. ;  General  Confer- 
ence Journal,  vol.  ii,  pp.  18-52. 

f  Journal  and  Debates,  p.  52. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


1G5 


Dr.  Early  said,  lie  "hoped  they  would  remember  that  large* 
majorities  were  apt  to  be  tyrannical — he  trusted  they  would 
keep  calm. "  * 

Dr.  William  Capers  wrote  to  the  Southern  Advocate  from 
New  York,  saying :  "  We  are  in  trouble  and  know  not  what  to 
be  at,  but  to  pray  for  the  divine  direction.  It  appears  that  since 
the  secession  of  Scott,  Sunderland,  and  others  on  the  rabid  princi- 
ples of  ultra  abolitionism,  many  of  the  preachers  have  leaned 
that  way  for  the  purpose  of  persuading  the  people  who  were 
sympathizing  with  the  seceders  that  they  could  be  as  ultra  as 
they  pleased  and  continue  in  the  Church.  ...  I  feel  that  we 
have  a  vital  interest  in  this  connection.  The  South  sink  or 
swim  together.  There  is  no  division,  no  possibility  of  division 
among  Southern  men  who  are  of  the  South  in  this  matter.  It 
is  not  worth  the  while  to  split  the  hair  which  divides  the  pres- 
ent conservatives,  as  they  call  themselves,  from  the  abolitionists 
of  a  few  years  ago.  Any  thing  short  of  the  most  rabid  and 
fanatical  abolitionism  is  called  conservative. "  f  The  words  of 
these  three  great  leaders  of  the  Southern  members  give  the 
key-note  to  the  whole  body.  There  was  not  a  Southern  mem- 
ber who  voted  otherwise  than  did  these. 

Three  days  after  the  decision  of  the  Harding  case  Drs. 
Capers  and  Olin  offered  a  resolution  concerning  the  Resolution  of 
distracted  state  of  the  members  of  the  Conference,  onn  onSpaci- 
which,  after  a  slight  amendment,  was  adopted.  '  It  fixation, 
read  as  follows : 

"  In  view  of  the  distracting  agitation  which  has  so  long  pre- 
vailed on  the  subject  of  slavery  and  abolition,  and  especially 
the  difficulties  under  which  we  labor  in  the  present  General 
Conference  on  account  of  the  relative  position  of  our  brethren 
North  and  South  on  this  perplexing  question,  therefore, 

"Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  [three  from  the  North  and 
three  from  the  South]  [that  in  brackets  was  amended  to  read 
'a  committee  of  six']  he  appointed  to  confer  with  the  bishops, 
and  report  within  two  days,  as  to  the  possibility  of  adopting  some 
plan,  and  what,  for  the  permanent  pacification  of  tlie  Church." 

*  Journal  and  Debates,  p.  52.  f  The  Great  Secession,  p.  291. 


160 


MANUAL  OF 


The  committee  appointed  by  the  Bishop  was  William  Capers, 
Stephen  Olin,  William  Winans,  John  Early,  L.  L.  Hamline, 
Phineas  Crandall. 

This  committee  called  the  delegates  from  the  two  sections  to 
meet  separately  and  counsel  as  to  their  desires  and  willingness 
to  yield  to  each  other  for  the  sake  of  peace.  On  the  18th  of 
May  the  Committee  of  Conference  reported  throng] i  Bishop 
Soule  that  "after  a  calm  and  deliberate  investigation  of  the 
subject  submitted  to  their  consideration  they  are  unable  to 
agree  upon  any  plan  of  compromise  to  reconcile  the  views  of 
the  Xorthern  and  Southern  Conferences."  The  report  was 
accepted  and  committee  discharged,  and  there  ended  the  at- 
tempt to  compromise. 

On  the  20th  of  May,  1814,  while  business  was  progressing, 
Bishop  j.  o.  and  men  were  thinking  of  the  important  measures 
Andrew.  bein^  brought  before  them  on  which  to  legislate, 
John  A.  Collins  and  J.  B.  Houghtaling  introduced  the  follow- 
ing resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  It  is  currently  reported,  and  generally  understood, 
that  one  of  the  bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has 
become  connected  with  slavery ;  and,  whereas,  it  is  due  to  this 
General  Conference  to  have  a  proper  understanding  of  this 
matter;  therefore, 

^Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  the  Episcopacy  be  in- 
structed to  ascertain  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  report  the  results 
of  their  investigations  to  this  body  to-morrow  morning." 

The  Committee  on  Episcopacy  reported  on  the  foregoing 
resolution  on  the  23d  of  May  that  they  had  found  that  Bishop 
Andrew  was  connected  with  slavery.  Further,  they  had  ob- 
tained an  interview  with  him  on  the  subject,  and  he  had  fur- 
nished them  with  a  written  communication  relating  to  the 
matter,  which  they  offered  as  his  statement  and  explanation 
of  the  case,  to  wit  : 

"  To  the  Committee  on  Episcopacy  : 

"  Dear  Brethren  :  In  reply  to  your  inquiry,  I  submit  the 
following  statement  of  all  the  facts  bearing  on  my  connection 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


1G7 


with  slavery.  Several  years  since  an  old  lady  of  Augusta, 
Georgia,  bequeathed  to  me  a  mulatto  girl  in  trust  that 

^  *  .  °  .  Letter  of 

I  should  take  care  of  her  until  she  should  be  nineteen  Bishop 
years  of  age;  that  with  her  consent  I  should  then  Andrew- 
send  her  to  Liberia ;  and  that  in  case  of  her  refusal  I  should 
keep  her  and  make  her  as  free  as  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
Georgia  would  permit.  "When  the  time  arrived  she  refused  to 
go  to  Liberia,  and  of  her  own  choice  remains  legally  my  slave, 
although  I  derive  no  pecuniary  profit  from  her.  She  continues 
to  live  in  her  own  house  on  my  lot,  and  has  been,  and  is  at 
present,  at  perfect  liberty  to  go  to  a  free  State  at  her  pleasure, 
but  the  laws  of  the  State  will  not  permit  her  emancipation,  nor 
admit  such  deed  of  emancipation  to  record,  and  she  refuses  to 
leave  the  State.  In  her  case,  therefore,  I  have  been  made  a 
slave-holder  legally,  but  not  with  my  own  consent. 

"  Secondly.  About  five  years  since  the  mother  of  my  former 
wife  left  to  her  daughter,  not  to  ?ne,  a  Negro  boy,  and  as  my 
wife  died  without  a  will  more  than  two  years  since,  by  the  laws 
of  the  State  he  becomes  legally  my  property.  In  this  case,  as 
in  the  former,  emancipation  is  impracticable  in  the  State;  but 
he  shall  be  at  liberty  to  leave  the  State  whenever  I  shall  be 
satisfied  that  he  is  prepared  to  provide  for  himself,  or  I  can 
have  sufficient  security  that  he  will  be  protected  and  provided 
for  in  the  place  to  which  he  may  go. 

"  Thirdly.  In  the  month  of  January  last  I  married  my  pres- 
ent wife,  she  being  at  the  time  possessed  of  slaves  inherited 
from  her  former  husband's  estate,  and  belonging  to  her. 
Shortly  after  my  marriage,  being  unwilling  to  become  their 
owner,  regarding  them  as  strictly  hers,  and  the  law  not  permit- 
ting their  emancipation,  I  secured  them  to  her  by  a  deed  of 
trust. 

"  It  will  be  obvious  to  you  from  the  above  statement  of  facts 
that  I  have  neither  bought  nor  sold  a  slave ;  that  in  the  only 
two  instances  in  which  I  am  legally  a  slave-holder  emancipation 
is  impracticable.  As  to  the  servants  owned  by  my  wife,  I  have 
no  legal  responsibility  in  the  premises,  nor  could  my  wife 
emancipate  them  if  she  desired  to  do  so.    I  have  thus  plainly 


168 


MANUAL  OF 


stated  all  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  submit  the  statement  for  the 
consideration  of  the  General  Conference. 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

"  James  O.  Andrew." 

The  clear  and  bold  statement  of  Bishop  Andrew  revealed  a 
state  of  facts  that  was  unknown  to  a  majority  of  the  Northern 
delegates  before  reaching  the  seat  of  the  Conference.  Rumors 
had  been  afloat  for  a  few  days  of  the  fact,  but  this  was  the  first 
clear  and  authoritative  statement  of  the  case.  It  fell  "  like  a 
thunder-bolt  from  a  serene  sky."  * 

Alfred  Griffith  and  John  Davis  offered  a  preamble  and  res- 
olution. The  preamble  recited  the  facts  in  the  case  of  Bishop 
Andrew,  that  he  had  become  connected  with  slave-holding,  that 
it  had  been  from  the  origin  of  said  Church  a  settled  policy  and 
the  invariable  usage  to  elect  no  person  to  the  office  of  bishop 
who  was  embarrassed  with  this  "  great  evil,"  and  that  "  this  is, 
of  all  periods  in  our  history  as  a  Church,  the  one  least  favor- 
able to  such  an  innovation  upon  the  practice  and  usage  of 
Methodism  as  to  confide  a  part  of  the  itinerant  general  superin- 
tendency  to  a  slave-holder ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Rev.  James  O.  Andrew  be,  and  he  is, 
hereby  affectionately  requested  to  resign  his  office  as  one  of  the 
bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church."  f 

Mr.  Griffith  followed  this  with  an  address  setting  forth  the 
reasons  for  the  proposed  action.  He  claimed  that  since  the 
General  Conference  had  conferred  upon  Bishop  Andrew  his 
official  authority  and  power  it  was  within  the  province  of  the 
General  Conference  to  divest  him  of  this  office  for  cause. 

Bishop  Soule  then  addressed  the  Conference.  It  is,  at  this 
Bishop souie's  distance,  a  matter  of  astonishment  that  a  bishop 
first  address,  g^rdd  have  taken  part  in  this  discussion.  By  what 
right  other  than  the  courtesy  of  the  Conference  could  he  take 
part  in  the  discussion  ?  It  will  be  seen  later  that  he  made 
another  speech.     The  other  bishops  maintained  a  dignified 

*  Speech  of  Dr.  Olin,  Journal  and  Debates,  p.  102. 
f  General  Conference  Journal  of  1844,  p.  64. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  109 


silence.  The  preamble  and  resolution  were  discussed  by  Dr. 
Sandford,  Dr.  Winans,  Mr.  Bowen,  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce,  Mr. 
Berryman,  Mr.  Coleman,  Mr.  Stringfield,  Mr.  Crowder,  Mr. 
Spencer.  This  discussion  occurred  on  Wednesday,  May  22. 
On  Thursday,  May  23,  Dr.  Bangs  addressed  the  General  Con- 
ference on  the  same  subject. 

On  Thursday,  May  23,  James  B.  Finley  and  Joseph  M. 
Trimble,  of  Ohio,  offered  as  a  substitute  for  the  pend-  Fiuleyand 
ing  resolution  the  celebrated  preamble  and  resolution  Trimble's 
which  were  at  last  adopted  : 

"  Whereas,  The  Discipline  of  our  Church  forbids  the  doing 
any  thing  calculated  to  destroy  our  itinerant  general  superin- 
tendency,  and,  whereas,  Bishop  Andrew  has  become  connected 
with  slavery  by  marriage  and  otherwise,  and  this  act  having 
drawn  after  it  circumstances  which,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
General  Conference,  will  greatly  embarrass  the  exercise  of  his 
office  as  an  itinerant  general  superintendent,  if  not  in  some 
places  entirely  prevent  it ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General  Conference 
that  he  desist  from  the  exercise  of  his  office  so  long  as  this  im- 
pediment remains." 

This  substitute,  and  the  whole  question  on  its  merits,  were 
fully  discussed  by  strong  men  on  both  sides.  One  party  looked 
upon  the  act  of  Bishop  Andrew  as  a  direct  violation  of  the 
letter  and  intent  of  the  Discipline,  maintaining  that  a  slave- 
holding  bishop  should  not  be  tolerated.  Another  class  said  that 
the  Discipline  had  not  been  infracted,  and  Bishop  Andrew  could 
not  be  deposed  from  the  office  of  bishop  on  any  constitutional 
ground.  Another  class  argued,  that  while  the  Discipline  in  its 
express  letter  had  not  been  violated,  "  he  had  offended  against 
the  great  law  of  expediency."  *  The  discussion  lasted  several 
days.  Hot  words  were  spoken.  Some  were  in  favor  of  union, 
peace,  and  semi  compromise.  Others  were  threatening.  Some 
members  held  that  a  man  having  been  made  a  bishop  by  the 
General  Conference,  by  the  same  body  he  could  be  deposed  or 
suspended;  others  held  that  having  once  been  elected  and 

*  Dr.  Slicer,  in  Journal  and  Debates,  p.  107. 


170 


MANUAL  OF 


ordained  a  bishop,  it  being  a  life  tenure,  it  was  impossible  to 
suspend  or  depose  him. 

On  the  fifth  day  of  this  discussion  Dr.  Hamline  gained  the 
Hamiine's  floor  and  delivered  an  argument  on  the  following 
speech.        questions : 

1.  "  Has  the  General  Conference  constitutional  authority  to 
pass  this  resolution  ?  " 

2.  "  Is  it  proper  or  fitting  that  we  should  do  it  ?  "  . 

The  reasoning  was  clear,  logical,  and  irresistible,  and  the 
speech  has  remained  one  of  the  greatest  arguments  in  existence 
on  the  constitution  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.* 

On  the  sixth  day  of  this  discussion  Bishop  Andrew  arose 
under  great  emotion,  and,  addressing  the  Conference 

Bishop  An-  &#  9        '  & 

drew's  re-  concerning  his  own  case,  said,  "  I  am  a  slave-holder 
for  conscience'  sake."  He  hoped  the  Conference 
would  consider  that  there  was  still  a  large  field  where  lie  could 
be  useful  and  acceptable.  The  address  was  received  by  all 
parties  as  the  expression  of  a  man  wTho  believed  what  he  said  to 
be  true,  however  erroneous  might  be  his  conclusion. 

On  the  seventh  day  Bishop  Soule  arose,  and  the  second  time 
,  ,   addressed  the  Conference.    This  time  he  spoke  in 

Bishop  Soule  s      _  -  1 

second  ad-  high  commendation  of  Bishop  Andrew,  and  then 
took  the  ground  that  the  General  Conference  could 
not  depose  Bishop  Andrew  without  trial  and  the  right  of 
appeal.  He  claimed  that  the  passage  of  the  resolution  practi- 
cally deposed  the  bishop  without  form  of  trial.  He  looked  for- 
ward to  and  deprecated  a  division  of  the  Church.  "  All  the 
powers  of  earth,"  said  he,  "  cannot  immolate  me  upon  a  north- 
ern altar  or  a  southern  altar." 

Dr.  Durbin  followed  Bishop  Soule  with  an  address  thought 
^  ^.  ,     ,  by  many  to  have  had  no  superior.    He  said  the  sim- 

Durbm's   ad-  . 

dress  against  ilarity  supposed  to  exist  between  the  Harding  case  in 
the  Baltimore  Conference  and  the  case  of  Bishop 
Andrew  did  not  exist  In  the  Harding  case  the  question  was 
whether  it  was  practicable  for  him  to  emancipate  his  slaves.  It 
was  shown  that  it  was  practicable.    In  the  case  of  Bishop 

*See  Journal  and  Debates,  vol.  ii,  pp.  j.28-134. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


171 


Andrew  the  one  point  was  "that  the  episcopacy  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  ought  not  to  be  trammeled  with  slavery." 

The  discussion  went  forward  without  any  conclusion  till 
Thursday,  May  30,  when  Bishop  Heckling  asked  that  Re  uftgfc  Qf 
there  be  no  session  of  the  Conference  that  afternoon,  Bishop  Hed- 
"in  order  that  the  superintendents  might  have  an  dinR* 
opportunity  to  consult  together  with  a  view  of  fixing  upon  a 
compromise."  He  also  requested  that  the  committee  of 
Northern  and  Southern  brethren  be  revived,  to  meet  with  them. 
This  last  was  declined  by  the  Conference,  but  the  bishops  were 
to  send  for  such  brethren  as  they  might  desire  with  whom  to 
hold  counsel. 

On  Friday  morning,  May  31,  Bishop  Waugh  read  the  paper 
prepared  by  the  bishops  : 

"  To  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church : 
"  Rev.  and  Dear  Brethren  :  The  undersigned  respectfully 
and  affectionately  offer  to  your  calm  consideration  the  paper  of  tbe 
result  of  their  consultation  this  afternoon  in  regard  bish°Ps- 
to  the  unpleasant  and  very  delicate  question  which  has  been  so 
long  and  so  earnestly  debated  before  your  body.  They  have, 
with  the  liveliest  interest,  watched  the  progress  of  the  discussion, 
and  have  awaited  its  termination  with  the  deepest  solicitude. 
As  they  have  pored  over  this  subject  with  anxious  thought  by  day 
and  by  night  they  have  been  more  and  more  impressed  with  the 
difficulties  connected  therewith,  and  the  disastrous  results  which, 
in  their  apprehension,  are  the  almost  inevitable  consequences  of 
present  action  on  the  question  now  pending  before  you.  To  the 
undersigned  it  is  fully  apparent  that  a  decision  thereon,  whether 
affirmatively  or  negatively,  will  most  extensively  disturb  the 
peace  and  harmony  of  that  widely  extended  brotherhood  which 
has  so  effectively  operated  for  good  in  the  United  States  of  Amer- 
ica and  elsewhere  during  the  last  sixty  years,  in  the  development 
of  a  system  of  active  energy,  of  which  union  has  always  been 
a  main  element.  They  have  with  deep  emotion  inquired,  Can 
any  thing  be  done  to  avoid  an  evil  so  much  deprecated  by  every 
friend  of  our  common  Methodism?    Long  and  anxiously  have 


172 


MANUAL  OF 


they  waited  for  a  satisfactory  answer  to  this  inquiry,  but  they  have 
paused  in  vain.  At  this  painful  crisis  they  have  unanimously 
concurred  in  the  propriety  of  recommending  the  postponement 
of  further  action  in  the  case  of  Bishop  Andrew  until  the  ensu- 
ing General  Conference.  It  does  not  enter  into  the  design  of  the 
undersigned  to  argue  the  propriety  of  their  recommendation, 
otherwise  strong  and  valid  reasons  might  be  adduced  in  its  sup- 
port. They  cannot  but  think  that  if  the  embarrassment  of 
Bishop  Andrew  should  not  cease  before  that  time,  the  next 
General  Conference,  representing  the  pastors,  ministers,  and 
people  of  the  several  Annual  Conferences,  after  all  the  facts  in 
the  case  shall  have  passed  in  review  before  them,  will  be  better 
qualified  than  the  present  General  Conference  can  be  to  adjudi- 
cate the  case  wisely  and  discreetly.  Until  the  cessation  of 
the  embarrassment,  or  the  expiration  of  the  interval  between 
the  present  and  the  ensuing  General  Conference,  the  under- 
signed believe  that  such  a  division  of  the  work  of  the  general 
superintendency  might  be  made  without  any  infraction  of  a 
constitutional  principle  as  would  fully  employ  Bishop  Andrew 
in  those  sections  of  the  Church  in  which  his  presence  and  serv- 
ices would  be  welcome  and  cordial.  If  the  course  pursued  on 
this  occasion  by  the  undersigned  be  deemed  a  novel  one  they  per- 
suade themselves  that  their  justification,  in  the  view  of  all  candid 
and  peace-loving  persons,  will  be  found  in  their  strong  desire 
to  prevent  disunion  and  to  promote  harmony  in  the  Church. 
"  Very  respectfully  and  affectionately  submitted, 

"  Joshua  Soule,       Elijah  IIedoixg, 
B.  AVaugh,  T.  A.  Mobris." 

This  communication  was  referred  to  a  committee. 

The  next  day  Bishop  Hedding  stated  that  he  had  supposed 
the  paper  to  be  a  peace  measure,  and  that  it  would  be  generally 
accepted.  As  he  was  convinced  that  it  would  only  cause 
lengthened  debate  and  so  add  to  the  difficulty,  he  wished  to 
withdraw  his  name.  Bishops  Soule,  AYaugh,  and  ]\Iorris  wished 
theirs  to  remain,  the  latter  "  as  a  testimony  that  he  had  done 
what  he  could  to  preserve  the  unity  of  the  body."    By  a  vote 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


173 


of  95  to  83  the  communication  of  the  bishops  was  laid  on  the 
table.  The  taking  of  the  vote  on  the  substitute  of  vote  on  the 
Finley  and  Trimble  was  one  of  the  most  impress-  ^mbie  rev- 
ive acts  in  the  history  of  the  Church.  The  result  lution. 
stood,  yeas,  111 ;  nays,  69.  Dr.  Pierce  gave  notice  that  the 
Southern  delegates  would,  at  the  "earliest  possible  Notice  of  a 
moment,"  enter  "a  proper  protest  against  this  ac-  protest, 
tion."  This  important  vote  of  the  General  Conference  took 
place  Saturday,  June  1. 

The  manner  in  which  the  Southern  delegates  received  this  is 
found  in  the  words  of  Dr.  J.  B.  McFerrin.  u  To  McFemn's 
the  delegates,"  says  he,  "from  the  Southern  Confer-  account- 
ences  the  blow  was  sad  and  serious.  They  met  soon  after 
the  resolutions  deposing  Bishop.  Andrew  had  been  adopted  by 
the  majority,  and  I  never  witnessed  such  a  meeting.  For  a 
season  silence  prevailed  in  the  whole  assembly,  and  this  was 
succeeded  by  sobs  and  tears ;  every  member  present  was  dis- 
tressed beyond  measure.  To  separate  from  the  Northern 
members,  to  divide  the  Church  we  loved,  and  to  make  a  breach 
in  the  ranks  of  our  glorious  Methodism  was  too  much  to  be 
contemplated  without  feelings  of  the  deepest  grief.  But  what 
could  be  done  ?  What  other  method  could  be  adopted  ?  We 
could  not  return  to  our  people  with  this  illegal  and  proscriptive 
action  upon  us.  To  submit  wTas  in  effect  to  abandon  the 
Church  in  the  South  and  to  turn  away  from  God's  heritage. 
The  enemies  of  Methodism  in  the  South  would  rejoice  ;  our 
people  would  no  longer  adhere  to  us,  and  we  would  be  dis- 
banded. We  protested.  Our  protest  was  considered.  A  plan 
of  separation  was  adopted,  and  the  Southern  delegates  returned 
home  to  report  the  disaster  and  to  do  the  best  they  could  under 
all  the  disabilities  laid  upon  them."  Dr.  Fitzgerald,  in  com- 
menting on  this  paragraph,  nobly  says :  "  This  statement  is 
succinct  and  honest,  and,  from  McFerrin's  point  of  view,  cor- 
rect. The  same  facts  have  been  given  a  different  coloring  by 
men  equally  well  informed  and  no  less  honest  than  himself."  * 

Sad  and  sorrowful  were  the  delegates  from  the  Northern 

*  Life  of  J.  B.  McFerrin,  p.  157. 


174 


MANUAL  OF 


Conferences,  for  they  had  become  personally  attacked  to  many 
Effect  upon  °^  tnese  noble  men  in  the  South,  and  all  were 
Northern  del-   anxious  to  preserve  the  unity  of  Methodism.  They, 

egrates. 

however,  believed  that  a  principle  as  fundamental 
as  the  decalogue  was  involved  in  this  question  of  retaining 
Bishop  Andrew.  All  believed  slave-holding  to  be  an  evil, 
and  slave-trading  a  sin,  and  that  a  Methodist  preacher  must  be 
free  from  all  connection  with  the  evil  when  the  laws  of  the 
State  would  permit.  Especially  a  slave-holding  bishop  could 
not  be  tolerated. 

On  Monday  morning,  June  3,  Dr.  Slicer  introduced  a  reso" 
siicer's  pro-  lution  that  the  action  of  the  General  Conference 
posai.  regarding  Bishop  Andrew  should  be  understood  to 

be  only  advisory,  the  final  disposition  to  be  made  at  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  184S.  But  this  was  very  promptly 
laid  on  the  table.  Dr.  Capers  presented  a  plan,  in  six 
resolutions,  to  constitute  two  General  Conferences,  to  meet 
quadrennially,  one  in  the  South  and  one  in  the  No;  th.  The 
capers'sprop-  Southern  Conference  was  to  include  Virginia, 
General' ' con-  Kentucky,  Missouri,  and  all  the  States  south  of 
ferences.  them.  The  territory  north  of  this  line  was  to  be  in 
the  Northern  General  Conference.  This  proposition  included 
a  plan  for  conducting  the  Book  Concerns  at  New  York  and 
Cincinnati  and  for  the  management  of  the  Missionary  Society 
jointly  by  the  two  General  Conferences,  the  agents  and  editors 
to  be  elected  at  the  Northern  Conference,  the  votes  of  the 
Southern  Conference  to  be  cast  by  delegates  of  that  Conference 
attending  the  Northern  Conference  for  that  purpose.  These 
resolutions  met  with  no  considerable  favor,  even  in  the  commit- 
tee, they  were  so  manifestly  unconstitutional.  A  paper  drawn 
up  by  Drs.  Paine  and  Smith  was  submitted  and  rejected  by  the 
committee. 

On  June  5  delegates  from  the  Southern  Conferences,  through 
Longstreet's  Bongstreet,  presented  a  "declaration"  "that 

declaration.  t3i6  continued  agitation  on  the  subject  of  slavery  and 
abolition  in  a  portion  of  the  Church,"  and  "the  extra-judicial 
proceedings  against  Bishop  Andrew  .  .  .  must  produce  a  state 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


175 


of  tilings  in  the  South  which  renders  a  continuance  of  the 
jurisdiction  of  this  General  Conference  over  these  Conferences 
inconsistent  with  the  success  of  the  ministry  in  the  slave-hold- 
ing States."  This  was  referred  to  a  committee  of  nine,  and  was 
understood  to  be  the  announcement  of  an  intention  to  secede. 
Before  the  committee  had  time  to  consider  the   „  ^  . 

McFernn  and 

declaration  Dr.  McFerrin  and  T.  Spicer  offered  a  spieer'a  reso- 
resolution  instructing  them,  provided  there  could  be 
no  amicable  adjustment  of  the  differences  existing  in  the 
Church  on  the  subject  of  slavery,  "to  devise,  if  possible,  a  con- 
stitutional plan  for  a  mutual  and  friendly  division  of  the 
Church."  This  brought  the  whole  matter  before  the  com- 
mittee, and  they  were  expected  to  carefully  digest  these  sub- 
jects, mature  a  plan,  and  present  it  within  t\\  o  or  three  days.  The 
work  of  months  was  to  be  crowded  into  a  few  hours.  The  com- 
mittee of  nine  was  composed  of  Robert  Paine,  Glezen  Fillmore, 
Peter  Akers,  Nathan  Bangs.  Thomas  Crowder,  Thomas  B. 
Sargent,  William  Winans,  L.  L.  Hamline,  and  James  Porter — 
men  of  strength  and  conviction. 

The  next  day,  June  6,  Dr.  H.  B.  Bascom  read  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  the  noted  Protest  of  the  minority  in 

<■  -r^.  i         *     i  t  i  i  The  Potest. 

the  case  ot  Bishop  Andrew,  it  was  a  Jong  and  care- 
fully prepared  document.  It  was  an  argument  in  favor  of 
Bishop  Andrew  and  in  opposition  to  abolitionism,  and  it  laid 
the  foundation  for  a  formal  separation  and  disruption  of  the 
Church.  In  it  is  the  significant  sentence,  "  The  South  cannot 
submit,  and  the  absolute  necessity  of  division  is  already  dated." 
The  Protest  was  signed  by  fifty-nine  delegates.  Of  these  one 
was  a  member  of  Ohio  Conference,  four  of  Philadelphia,  two 
of  Illinois,  and  two  of  New  Jersey.  The  other  signers  were 
from  the  Southern  Conferences.  The  Protest  was  Referred  to  a 
ordered  to  be  placed  on  the  Journal  and  referred  to  committee- 
a  committee — Olin,  Durbin,  and  Hamline — to  prepare  a  true 
statement  of  the  case  to  be  entered  in  the  Journal. 

On  June  8  the  committee  of  nine  presented  an  elaborate  re- 
port, which  was  adopted.  This  document  is  what  has  so  fre- 
quently been  called  "  The  Plan  of  Separation."    It  was  not 


170 


MANUAL  OF 


so  called  by  the  General  Conference,  but  by  the  reporter,  Rev. 

R.  A.  West,  an  Englishman.    In  the  Conference  it 

Report  of  the  '  ° 

committee  of   was  known  as  the  "  Report  on  the  Declaration." 

This  so-called  "  Plan  of  Separation 99  may  be  sum- 
marized as  follows  : 

I.  It  established  the  mode  of  procedure  for  determining  the 
Abstract  of     limits  of  jurisdiction  of  the  two  Churches. 

Plan-  2.  It  granted  to  all  ministers  the  right  to  choose 

to  which  Church  they  would  adhere. 

3.  It  recommended  to  the  Annual  Conferences  the  repeal 
of  the  restrictive  rule  governing  the  appropriation  of  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  Book  Concern. 

4.  Such  repeal  having  been  authorized  by  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences, it  provided  for  the  transfer  to  the  Southern  Church 
of  all  accounts  held  by  the  Concern  against  ministers  and  other 
residents  of  the  South,  and  of  all  real  estate  and  other  property 
located  in  the  South  and  owned  by  the  Concern.  This  referred 
especially  to  the  printing  establishments  at  Charleston,  Rich- 
mond, and  Nashville. 

5.  It  provided  further  for  the  division  of  the  capital  and 
stock  of  the  Book  Concern  ;  and 

6.  For  the  transfer  of  a  defined  portion  of  such  capital  and 
stock  to  the  Southern  Church. 

7.  It  appointed  Nathan  Bangs,  George  Peck,  and  James  B. 
Finley  commissioners  to  act  in  concert  with  three  commission- 
ers to  be  appointed  by  the  Church  South,  and  with  them  to 
arrange  and  effect  such  division  and  transfer. 

8.  It  provided  for  concert  of  action  between  the  Book  Agents 
of  the  two  Churches  in  the  settlement  of  claims. 

9.  It  provided  that  all  property  in  churches,  schools,  and  the 
like  within  the  limits  of  the  Southern  organization,  and  until 
then  owned  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  should  be  there- 
after freed  from  all  claims  by  the  said  Church. 

10.  It  provided  for  the  common  use  by  both  Churches  of  all 
copyrights  whose  title  was  at  that  time  vested  in  the  Book 
Concern. 

II.  It  provided  for  a  division  of  the  Chartered  Fund. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


177 


12.  It  requested  the  bishops  to  bring  before  the  Annual  Con- 
ferences, as  soon  as  possible,  such  part  of  the  report  as  required 
their  action,  beginning  with  the  New  York  Conference. 

The  above  is  the  so-called  "  Plan  of  Separation,"  or  as  some 
have  called  it,  the  "  Plan  of  Adjustment."  This  report  has  been 
variously  understood.  The  South  after  a  time  interpreted  it  as 
a  u  plain,"  and  verily  intended,  separation.  Dr.  L.  L.  Hamline 
insisted  that  the  General  Conference  could  not  provide  for 
an  amicable  separation,  it  having  no  power  to  divide  the 
Church.  When  Hamline  was  pressed  for  an  answer  as  to 
what  the  South  could  do  he  said,  "  Secede."  Dr.  McFer- 
rin's  resolution  is  often  quoted  as  helping  to  frame  a  way  for 
separation,  but  at  the  time  J.  T.  Peck  and  Hamline  publicly 
refused  to  have  any  thing  to  do  with  it  if  that  was  the  inter- 
pretation to  be  put  upon  it.  It  is  claimed  that  the  PecK:  and 
resolution  was  amended  to  read,  "That  in  case  no  Hamiine. 
plan  of  amicable  adjustment  can  be  formed  the  committee  be 
instructed  to  inquire  if  there  be  a  constitutional  mode  for 
dividing  the  funds  of  the  Church."  This,  it  is  said,  was 
accepted  by  the  mover,  but  strange  as  it  may  appear,  by  a 
clerical  blunder  the  secretary  failed  to  enter  the  change.*  It 
is  doubtless  true  that  at  this  point  the  General  Conference  had 
become  fully  settled  in  the  opinion  and  assured  of  the  fact 
that  there  would  be  a  separation.  It  could  not  be  a  constitu- 
tional separation,  but  a  secession.  Language  had  been  so 
plainly  spoken  that  men  could  not  misunderstand''  the  act. 
The  Southern  Conferences  would  secede.  In  view  of  this  a 
k'  Plan  of  Adjustment "  was  devised  to  meet  such  an  emergency — 
such  an  unconstitutional  act — and  this  was  as  far  as  the  major- 
ity intended  to  go. 

Another  question  arose,  suggested  by  the1  bishops..  Should 
Bishop  Andrew's  name  appear  on  any  official  gHould  An. 
document,  such   as   Hymn-book,  Discipline,,  and  brew's  name 

,,.  -i      -i  -i  i  •  r  appear  on  any 

Minutes?    Whence  should  he  get  his  support,  and  official  ciocu- 
what  work  should  be  assigned  him?    By  an  over-  ment? 
whelming  vote  it  was  ordered  that  his  name  should  stand 

*  Life  of  Hamline,  p.  138.. 

13 


ITS 


MANUAL  OF 


attached  to  the  Minutes,  Hymn-book,  and  Discipline.  His 
support  should  be  provided  for  as  was  that  of  any  other  bishop, 
and  he  was  himself  to  decide  what  work  lie  would  do  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  previous  action  of  Conference. 

The  last  act  of  the  General  Conference  on  this  memorable 
Reply  to  the  occasion  in  connection  with  the  case  of  Bishop 
protest.  Andrew,  was  to  adopt  the  Reply  to  the  Protest,  pre- 
pared by  J.  P.  Durbin,  George  Peck,  and  Charles  Elliott.  The 
two  last  names  had  been  substituted  in  place  of  Olin  and  Ham- 
line.  The  reply  is  a  paper  clearly  and  strongly  setting  forth  the 
slavery  issue,  the  attempts  at  an  amicable  adjudication  of  the  dif- 
ficulty, the  unconstitutionality  of  division,  the  impossibility  of 
tolerating  a  slave-holding  bishop,  and  repudiating  the  statement 
that  the  majority  had  treated  the  minority  with  tyranny. 

Having  spent  much  time  on  this  vexed  question,  one  of  the 
most  exciting  in  all  the  history  of  the  Church,  and  one  fraught 
with  results  from  which,  if  men  could  have  fully  seen  them, 
they  would  have  recoiled,  we  turn  to  other  transactions  of  im- 
portance in  the  ever  memorable  General  Conference  of  1844. 

The  Church  was  districted  into  forty  Annual  Conference?, 
Annual  con-  one  being  the  Liberia  Mission  Conference;  this  was 
ferences.       an  jncrease  0f  s;x<    The  new  Conferences  were  the 

Vermont,  North  Indiana,  Iowa,  Western  Texas,  Florida,  and 
Indian  Mission. 

The  bishops  were  directed  to  prepare  a  course  of  study 
course  of  ^or  tne  candidates  for  deacons'  and  elders'  orders, 
study  for     Committees  of  examination  in  each  Annual  Conference 

ministers.  .  . 

were  to  be  appointed  by  the  bishop  presiding,  whose- 
duty  was  to  examine  these  candidates  in  the  course  of  study 
and  report  to  the  Conference.  The  presiding  elders  were 
directed  to  call  the  attention  of  candidates  for  the  ministry  to 
this  course  of  study.  It  was  made  the  rule  that  "  before  any 
such  candidate  is  received  into  full  connection,  or  ordained 
deacon  or  elder,  he  shall  give  satisfactory  evidence  respecting 
his  knowledge  of  those  particular  subjects  which  have  been 
recommended  to  his  consideration."  This  wise  rule  is  still  in 
force,  and  has  proved  of  much  benefit. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  179 


Leonid  as  L.  Humlino  and  Edmund  S.  Janes  were  elected 
bishops.  George  Lane  and  C.  B.  Tippett  were  elected 
book  agents  at  .New  York;  Lcrov  Swprmstedt  and 
John  T.  Mitchell,  at  Cincinnati ;  George  Peck,  editor  of  Quar- 
terly Review  and  hooks  of  general  catalogue;  Thomas  E, 
Bond,  editor,  and  George  Coles,  assistant,  of  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal;  Charles  Pitman,  corresponding  secretary  of 
Missionary  Society;  Edward  Thomson,  editor  of  the  Ladies' 
Repository;  Charles  Elliott,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Ad- 
vocate ;  William  Nast,  editor  of  Christian  Apologist ;  Leroy 
M.  Lee,  editor  of  Richmond  Christian  Adeocate ;  W.-  M. 
Wightman,  editor  of  Southern  Christian  Advocate;  J.  B. 
McFerrin,  editor  of  South-western  Christian  Advocate;  Will- 
iam Hunter,  editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate ;  Kelson 
Rounds,  editor  of  Northern  Christian  Adv  cate ;  and  D.  P. 
Kidder,  editor  of  Sunday-School  Advocate  and  Sunday-school 
books.    This  last  was  a  new  office. 

<k A  decided  advance,"  says  M.  Simpson,  "was  made  on  the 
subject  of  temperance.    The  Annual  Conferences 

d  1  Temperance. 

were  requested,  by  a  vote  of  93  to  33,  to  alter  the 
Restrictive  Rule,  so  as  to  restore  Mr.  Wesley's  original  rule  on 
this  subject,  which  read,  'Drunkenness,  or  buying  or  selling 
spirituous  liquors,  or  drinking  them,  unless  in  cases  of  extreme 
necessity.'  " 

The  action  of  the  General  Conference  of  1S40,  whereby 
the  testimony  of  colored  persons  against  white  per-  Testimony  of 
sous  was  permitted  in  such  States  as  allowed  the  NeRroes- 
same,  was  rescinded.    This  action  looks  like  a  yielding  of  the 
North  to  the  South. 

A  little  after  midnight  on  the  11th  of  June  the  General  Con- 
ference adjourned.  It  was  a  sad  adjournment.  The  Church 
was  being  rent.  Old  friends  were  parting  to  meet  no  more  in  its 
councils.  Stirring  times  were  at  the  door.  Strong  hearts  were 
to  become  faint.  Angels  and  men  were  to  be  sad.  Devils  and 
bad  men  were  to  rejoice.  The  Church,  by  a  large  majority 
of  its  representatives,  had  spoken  in  tones  that  still  reverberate 
that  it  is  "the  inflexible  purpose  of  the  denomination  to  keep 


180 


MANUAL  OF 


its  episcopacy  clear  from  the  evil  of  American  slavery,  though 
at  so  great  a  cost  as  the  division  of  the  body."  "The  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  has  passed  through  three  periods  of 
great  perplexity  and  peril :  in  1792,  when  James  O'Kelly 
made  a  schism ;  in  1S23,  when  the  conflict  resulted  in  the 
organization  of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church;  and  in  1844, 
when  the  Church  divided  between  the  Xorth  and  South.  It 
was  our  comfort  in  1702  to  have  John  Dickins  as  a  power 
to  sustain.  It  was  our  joy  that  in  1828  Dr.  John  Emory  and 
Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond  were  equal  to  her  defense.  Xor  can  the 
time  ever  come  when  the  Church  will  forget  the  service  ren- 
dered her  in  1844  by  L.  L.  Hamline  and  J.  P.  Durbin.  The 
difficulty  of  1792  was  a  burning  fever;  the  secession  of  1828 
was  a  lancinating  pain  ;  but  Bishop  Andrew's  case  in  1844  rent 
the  body  and  covered  the  Church  with  enervating  gloom.  But 
Drs.  Hamline  and  Durbin  then  threw  around  our  economy  a 
breastwork  of  argument  that  the  heaviest  artillery  failed  to 
impair."  * 

*  Dr.  Roche,  in  Life  of  J.  P.  Durbin,  p.  HO. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  181 


CHAPTER  XXL 

EVENTS  FOLLOWING  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1844. 

Great  excitement  followed  the  action  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, both  in  the  Church  and  country.  The  Feelmgofthe 
public  mind  was  troubled  with  forebodings  of  some-  church  North 

i  •  „Tl  f , ,    L  and  South. 

thing  worse  to  come.  "  It  was  rumored  that  some 
leading  Southern  ministers  had  been  in  correspondence  with 
Southern  statesmen,  and  that  the  measures  looking  toward 
separation  had  been  under  their  advice.  There  was  no  evi- 
dence, however,  of  the  correctness  of  this  statement  excepting 
that  Dr.  Capers  was  in  personal  correspondence  with  John  C. 
Calhoun ;  yet  many  regarded  a  prospective  separation  of  the 
Church  as  shadowing  forth  and  only  anticipating  a  separation 
of  the  States.  Hence  the  mind  of  the  Church  throughout  the 
Northern  States  recoiled  from  the  thought  of  separation,  and 
the  report  which  had  been  adopted  was  very  generally  con- 
demned. In  the  South  there  was  general  acquiescence  in  the 
steps  which  had  been  taken  by  their  ministers.  They  vainly 
hoped  that  the  separation  of  the  Church  would  free  them  from 
the  influence  of  antislavery  agitation.  Though  many  deeply 
regretted  the  measure,  it  was  supposed  that  the  peace  and  quiet 
which  would  follow  would  more  than  compensate  for  the  loss 
of  brotherly  union.  The  part  of  the  Plan  which  was  laid  before 
the  Annual  Conferences  failed  to  receive  the  constitutional  ma- 
jority, and  many  supposed  that  thereby  the  whole  plan  had 
been  defeated."  *  The  South  had  a  different  view,  and  deter- 
mined to  establish  an  independent  Church. 

The  General  Conference  held  its  final  session  on  the  10th  of 
June.  On  the  11th  of  J une  the  Southern  delegates  s^them  con. 
met  and  passed  resolutions  looking  to  the  organiza-  vention  called, 
tion  of  the  new  Church.    They  called  a  convention  to  assemble 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years,  pp.  153,  154. 


182 


MANUAL  OF 


in  Louisville,  Ky.,  May  1,  1845.  The  delegates  to  this  were  to 
be  elected  by  the  Conferences  within  the  slave-holding  States  in 
the  ratio  of  one  to  every  eleven  members.  The  Annual  Confer- 
ences were  to  instruct  their  delegates  on  the  points  on  which  action 
a  was  contemplated — separation  from  the  old  and  the 

Address      of  t  1  1 

southern  del-  establishment  of  a  new  Church.  At  the  same  time 
an  address  to  the  ministers  and  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  slave-holding  States  and 
Territories  was  issued. 

The  newspaper  discussions  of  the  time  were  of  the  most 
Newspaper  bold,  sharp,  and  sometimes  acrimonious  kind, 
discussions,  jf^  when  tempered  with  grace,  feeling  was  so  in- 
tense, what  must  it  have  been  when  grace  was  absent?  In 
individual  societies  great  discussions  were  held.  All  possible 
phases  of  the  question — slave-holding,  the  slave-traffic,  anti- 
slavery  ism,  emancipation,  abolitionism,  slave-holding  preach- 
ers and  bishops,  the  constitutionality  and  unconstitutionality  of 
the  division,  the  probable  results  of  secession,  etc. — were  dis- 
cussed throughout  the  entire  Church.  Friends  often  became 
foes.  Strange  bedfellows  were  made.  Methodism  paid  an 
enormous  price  for  her  devotion  to  a  principle  and  her  love  for 
what  she  believed  to  be  the  true  teaching  of  the  word  of  God. 

While  many  local  churches  in  the  South  declared  their 
Action  of  local  assent  to  the  action  of  their  delegates,  and  hailed 
churches.  the  secession  with  delight,  other  churches  on  the 
border  did  not  indorse  the  action,  but  lamented  and  repudi- 
ated it.  Wesley  Chapel,  in  Washington,  D.  C,  on  the  23d 
of  July,  1844,  passed  resolutions  condemning  the  movement 
of  the  Southern  delegates.  The  language  was  plain  and  strong. 
In  the  Northern  Conferences  where  action  was  taken  con- 
cerning Bishop  Andrew's  case  and  the  movement  of 
Northern  the  Southern  brethren  to  secede  from  the  Church, 
conferences.  t]iere  was  not  one  commended  their  delegates  for 
the  manly  course  pursued,  and  condemned  the  course  of  Bishop 
Andrew  and  the  Southern  delegates.  All  sought  for  unity 
if  it  could  be  had  without  violating  principles  ;  but,  first  of  all, 
principles  must  be  maintained.    Even  the  Baltimore  Confer- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  183 


ence  refused  to  go  with  their  Southern  brethren.  Though 
there  were  slave-holding  members  within  its  bounds  these  did 
not  want  slave-holding  ministers  or  a  slave-holding  bishop. 

Bishop  Andrew,  in  August,  1844,  issued  an  address  to  the  pub- 
lic, in  which  he  justified  his  own  course  and  that  of  0f  southern 
the  Southern  delegates.  In  the  Southern  Conferences  conferences, 
the  proposition  to  secede  was  fully  discussed.  They  condemned 
the  action  of  the  General  Conference,  approved  the  action  of 
the  Southern  delegates,  and  the  call  for  the  Louisville  Conven- 
tion by  electing  delegates  to  attend  and  represent  the  Confer- 
ences in  forming  a  new  Church.  The  Kentucky  Conference, 
led  by  Dr.  Bascom,  was  the  first  to  give  utterance  to  its  senti- 
ments, and  most  of  the  other  Conferences  followed  her  course. 
Ilolston  Conference  hesitated,  and  never  came  out  as  strongly 
for  secession  as  the  other  Southern  Conferences.  They  however 
elected  delegates  to  the  Louisville  Convention.  At  the  Ten- 
nessee Conference  Bishop  Soule  invited  Bishop  Andrew  to 
preside  with  him,  in  direct  opposition  to  the  decision  of  the 
Board  of  Bishops. 

Thus  we  have  the  anomaly  of  Conferences  standing  in  dia- 
metrical opposition  to  each  other.  The  one  side  wanted  unity 
and  freedom  from  slavery  and  from  a  slave-holding  ministry ; 
the  other  was  willing  to  accept  slave-holding,  and  demanded 
separation  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  the  for- 
mation of  a  new  Church. 

The  Convention  assembled  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  May  1,  1845. 
The  delegates  from  the  Southern  Conferences  were  Tne Louisviiie 
generally  present.  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce  was  called  to  convention, 
the  chair.  Bishops  Soule  and  Andrew  were  invited  to  preside, 
which  they  agreed  to  do  the  next  day.  Rev.  T.  O.  Summers 
was  elected  secretary.  Bishop  Soule,  on  the  second  day, 
addressed  the  Conference  in  much  the  same  style  as  he  had 
employed  elsewhere.  A  committee  on  organization  was  ap- 
pointed, and  Dr.  Winans,  in  his  speech  on  his  reso-  winan's 
lution  instructing  the  committee,  uttered  these  words, 
words:  "Only  necessity  can  justify  the  meeting  of  this  con- 
vention ;  expediency  could  not.  .  .  .  Slavery  was  so  inter- 


18-i 


MANUAL  OF 


woven  with  the  texture  of  Southern  society  that  it  was  impos- 
sible for  any  one  to  disentangle  it,  nor  can  any  religious  society 
avoid,  if  it  would,  connection  with  this  institution.  It  is  also 
true  that  public  opinion  rallies  around  this  institution  with 
great  jealousy  ;  and  he  who  comes  to  the  South  or  lives  in  the 
slave-holding  States  and  arrays  himself  against  slavery  dis- 
qualifies himself  from  exercising  any  influence  whatever.  He 
who  would  oppose  slavery  can  have  no  influence  in  the  South, 
civilly,  politically,  or  ecclesiastically."  * 

The  Convention  continued  in  session  from  the  1st  to  the  19th 
Report  of  the  °^  ^aJ-  On  the  loth  the  Committee  on  Organiza- 
committee  on  tion  brought  in  their  report,  which  was  read  by  Dr. 
organization.  ^  Bascom.  On  the  19th  it  was  adopted.  The 
two  leading  resolutions,  those  which  concern  us  now,  are  as 
follows : 

"  Be  it  resolved,  by  the  delegates  of  the  several  Annual 
Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  slave- 
holding  States,  in  general  Convention  assembled,  that  it  is 
right,  expedient,  and  necessary  to  erect  the  Annual  Conferences 
represented  in  this  Convention  into  a  distinct  ecclesiastical  con- 
nection, separate  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  at  present  consti- 
tuted ;  and  accordingly  we,  the  delegates  of  said  Annual  Confer- 
ences, acting  under  the  provisional  Plan  of  Separation  adopted 
by  the  General  Conference  of  1S44,  do  solemnly  declare  the 
jurisdiction  hitherto  exercised  over  said  Annual  Conferences 
by  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
entirely  dissolved  ;  and  that  said  Annual  Conferences  shall  be, 
and  they  hereby  are,  constituted  a  separate  ecclesiastical  con- 
nection under  the  provisional  Plan  of  Separation  aforesaid,  and 
based  upon  the  Discipline  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
comprehending  the  doctrines  and  entire  moral,  ecclesiastical,  and 
canonical  rules  and  regulations  of  said  Discipline,  except  only 
in  so  far  as  verbal  alterations  may  be  necessary  to  a  distinct 
organization,  and  to  be  known  by  the  style  and  title  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 

*  Life  of  McFtrrin,  pp.  184,  185. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  185 


"  Resolved,  That  although  we  cannot  abandon  or  compro- 
mise the  principles  of  action  upon  which  we  proceed  to  a  sep- 
arate organization  in  the  South,  nevertheless,  cherishing  a 
sincere  desire  to  maintain  Christian  union  and  fraternal  inter- 
course with  the  Church,  North,  we  shall  always  be  ready  to 
entertain  and  duly  and  carefully  consider  any  proposition  or 
plan  having  for  its  object  the  union  of  the  two  great  bodies  in 
the  North  and  South,  whether  such  proposed  union  be  juris- 
dictional or  connectional." 

Thus  the  Rubicon  was  passed,  and  a  new  Church  formed 
having  all  the  essential  features  of  the  Methodist  SouleandAn_ 
Episcopal  Church.     Bishops  Soule  and  Andrew   d™w  invited 

...  .         •ill  to  be  bishops. 

were  invited  to  unite  with  and  become  regular  and 
constitutional  bishops  of  the  new  organization.  The  same  day 
Bishop  Soule  presented  a  document  stating  that  he  must  act 
as  a  bishop  among  the  Northern  Conferences  until  he  had  com- 
pleted the  official  plan  of  episcopal  visitation  as  settled  by  the 
bishops  in  New  York  and  published  in  the  official  papers ; 
but  that  accomplished,  he  would  be  at  liberty  to  unite  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  to  exercise  his 
episcopal  functions  among  them  if  their  General  Conference 
should  so  decide.  This  document  plainly  indicated  what  he 
attempted  afterward  to  do — to  serve  as  bishop  in  two  Churches 
at  one  and  the  same  time.  In  September,  1845,  he  attended 
the  Ohio  Conference.  Bishop  Hamline,  through  gou]e  at  the 
courtesy,  invited  him  to  preside.  Immediately  0ni0  confer- 
upon  taking  the  chair  the  Conference  was  in  con- 
fusion. No  one  respected  him  or  listened  to  him.  A  mem- 
ber of  the  Conference  was  called  to  the  chair.  A  motion 
was  introduced  declaring  .that  it  was  inexpedient  and  highly 
improper  for  Bishops  Soule  and  Andrew  to  preside  in  Con- 
ferences of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Bishop  Ham- 
line,  seeing  the  dreadful  confusion,  took  the  chair,  called  to 
order,  and  put  the  question,  which  was  carried,  145  to  7. 
Had  the  Conference  for  one  moment  accepted  Bishop 
Soule's  presidency  it  would  have  given  color  to  his  claim  of  a 
right  to  preside  in  the  Annual  Conferences  of  the  Methodist 


186 


MANUAL  OF 


Episcopal  Clmrcli.  He  stated  that  lie  was  there  to  settle  a 
principle.  The  principle  was  official  recognition  by  the  North- 
ern Conferences  of  the  "  Plan  of  Separation  "  under  which  the 
Louisville  Convention  was  held  and  a  new  Church  formed. 
But  these  sturdy  Ohio  preachers  would  not  recognize  him,  and 
thus  settled  the  principle  against  him. 

Bishop  Andrew  at  once  gave  in  his  adherence  to  the  Methodist 
Adherence  of  Episcopal  Church,  South,  lie  was  at  once  recog- 
Andrewtotne  nized  as  a  bishop  in  that  Church,  clothed  with  full 
episcopal  authority.  He  visited  the  Southern  Con- 
ferences, and  in  company  with  Bishop  Sonle  sought  to  bring 
the  border  Conferences  unequivocally  into  line  with  the  South. 

The  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
southern  Sou th,  assembled  in  Petersburg,  Ya.,  May  1,  1846. 
General  con-   Bishop  Soule  wras  present  but  did  not  take  part  in 

f£r6nc6. 

the  proceedings,  for  he  said  u  he  had  not  yet  united 
with  the  new  Church."  Bishop  Andrew  not  being  present  on 
the  first  day,  J.  Early  was  elected  president  and  T.  N.  Ralston 
secretary.  The  next  day  Bishop  Andrew  arrived  and  took 
his  seat  as  president.  Bishop  Soule  then  addressed  the  Con- 
ference at  length,  and  closed  with  announcing  his  adherence  to 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South.  The  General  Con- 
ference then  recognized  him  as  a  bishop  in  that  Church.  Will- 
iam Capers  and  Robert  Paine  were  also  elected  bishops.  H.  B. 
Bascom,  A.  L.  P.  Green,  and  Samuel  A.  Latta  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  settle  property  questions  between  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South.  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce  was  elected  a  delegate  to  attend  the 
General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Having  traced  this  secession  of  the  thirteen  Southern  Con- 
ferences from  the  General  Conference  of  1844,  when  they 
were  in  the  communion  and  fellowship  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  to  the  Louisville  Convention  and  secession,  and 
thence  a  year  later  to  the  first  General  Conference  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South,  it  is  not  now  necessary  to  trace 
the  further  history  of  that  Church.  We  now  return  to  the 
life  and  work  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  187 


The  Missionary  Board  opened  its  first  mission  in  China  dur- 
ing the  year  1847,  sending  out  four  missionaries,  Foreign  mis- 
Eev.  Moses  White  and  wife  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Col-  ?rS£eTu 
lins  and  wife,  who  arrived  in  Foochow  September  1,  1847- 
1S47.  The  next  year  Rev.  Henry  Tlickock  and  wife  and  Rev. 
R.  S.  Maelay  went  out.  It  was  the  beginning  of  a  work  in 
the  Celestial  Empire  that  has  already  yielded  much  fruit  and 
gives  promise  of  much  more.  The  Foochow  Mission  has 
grown  to  a  Conference,  and  there  are  three  other  missions  of 
American  Methodism  in  China. 

The  German  work  grew  rapidly.  The  incoming  immigrants 
were  soon  sought  out  by  the  German  missionaries,  German  and 
and  hundreds  were  converted.  The  German  Swedisnwork 
churches  were  not  affected  by  the  secession  agitation.  A  con- 
verted Swede,  Rev.  O.  G.  Hedstrom,  commenced  a  mission  in 
New  York  designed  chiefly,  though  not  exclusively,  for  sea- 
men. His  place  of  worship  w^as  an  old  ship,  which  became 
familiarly  known  as  the  Bethel.  Here  Swedes,  Norwegians, 
and  Danes  heard  the  word  of  God  gladly  and  were  saved.  The 
work  spread  to  the  West,  and  especially  in  Wisconsin  and  Min- 
nesota great  numbers  were  brought  to  the  Saviour. 

In  tin's  quadrennium,  in  the  face  of  the  great  agitation, 
there  was  activity  in  the  Methodist  educational  field. 

.  Education. 

The  schools  already  established  were  strengthened 
both  financially  and  in  educational  facilities.  Several  new 
seminaries  were  also  established,  most  of  which  have  lived  to 
do  good  work  and  prove  an  honor  to  those  wdio  conceived  and 
planted  them.  In  1844,  Willamette  University,  at  Salem, 
Ore.,  on  the  sunset  coast  of  America;  in  1845,  New  Hampshire 
Conference  Seminary,  Tilton,  N.  II.,  in  the  extreme  East;  in 
1846,  Baldwin  University,  Berea,  O.,  and  Mount  Union  Col- 
lege, Mount  Union,  O. ;  in  1847,  Illinois  Female  College,  Jack- 
sonville, 111. ;  and  in  1848,  Williamsport  Dickinson  Seminary, 
Pa.,  were  established.  Most  of  these  have  grown  with  the 
years  until  the  good  resnlts  flowing  from  them  have  become  so 
great  as  not  to  be  told.  Methodism  has  been  eminently  success- 
ful in  her  educational  enterprises.    Most  of  them  have  been  con- 


188 


MANUAL  OF 


ceived  in  her  necessity,  built  up  in  sacrifices,  watered  with  tears, 
baptized  with  prayers,  but  they  have  lived  to  the  glory  of  God 
and  the  culture  and  salvation  of  thousands  of  immortal  souls. 

The  present  school  of  theology  of  Boston  University  was 
school  of  the-  founded  in  1847,  and  was  opened  at  Concord,  N.  H., 
oiogy,  1847.  under  the  title  "Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute." 
In  1867  it  was  removed  to  Boston,  and  known  as  the  Boston 
Theological  Seminary.  In  1871  it  became  the  theological  de- 
partment in  Boston  University.  Osmon  C.  Baker,  late  bishop, 
was  one  of  its  first  professors.  Dr.  John  Dempster  traveled 
extensively  in  its  interests  for  seven  years,  besides  filling  his 
chair  as  a  teacher.  Stephen  M.  Yail  was  elected  professor  of 
Hebrew  and  Biblical  Literature  in  1849.  There  was  some  op- 
position to  theological  schools,  but  this  developed  at  a  later  date. 
Methodism  continued  to  do  her  work  faithfully,  trusting  God, 
and  victory  came  also  to  this  arm  of  service. 

At  the  end  of  this  quadrennium  the  membership  stood  at 
639,066,  showing  a  loss,  through  Southern  secession 

Statistics.  . 

and  the  consequent  spiritual  paralysis,  of  532,290. 
There  were  3,841  traveling  preachers — a  loss  of  780 ;  local 
preachers  5,191 — a  loss  of  2,896.  The  decrease  in  the  number 
of  local  preachers,  for  some  unexplained  reason,  was  propor- 
tionally far  greater  than  in  the  itinerancy.  But  this  represents 
the  price  paid  by  the  Church  for  standing  loyally  to  her  Disci- 
pline and  her  principles. 

Bishop  Morris,  that  man  of  uncommon  sense  and  cool  head, 
saying  of  wuo  ^ac^  stood  firmly  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Bishop  Mor-  Church  in  her  peril,  when  closing  this  quadrennium, 
wrote  the  following  :  "All  I  have  and  all  I  am,  except 
sin  and  misery,  under  God,  I  owe  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  May  I  never  prove  recreant  to  her  nor  ungrateful  to 
him.  Having  been  a  member  nearly  thirty-five  years,  and  a 
traveling  preacher  more  than  thirty-two  years,  though  much  of 
the  time  unfaithful  and  unprofitable,  I  am  fully  satisfied  there 
is  no  Church  which  affords  more  helps  to  piety  in  this  world, 
or  a  better  prospect  of  gaining  heaven  in  the  end,  than  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  189 


"  Since  the  separation  of  the  Southern  Conferences  the  peace 
of  the  Church  has  been  much  disturbed  by  angry  controversy 
on  both  sides  of  the  line.  Many  difficult  questions  remain  un- 
settled ;  much  trouble  may  be  expected  during  and  after  the 
General  Conference  of  1848.  O  for  heavenly  wisdom  and 
Christian  forbearance.  Help,  Lord!  for  vain  is  the  help  of 
man  without  thy  blessing.  The  doings  of  the  approaching 
General  Conference  will  exert  a  powerful  influence  for  weal  or 
woe  upon  the  interests  of  Protestant  Christianity  in  general, 
and  especially  upon  those  of  Methodism  in  the  United  States. 
To  this  crisis  I  have  long  looked  as  the  day  of  conflict  and  trial, 
from  which  none  but  God  can  deliver  us.  May  he  deliver! 
To  this  end  may  we  all  confess  our  sins  to  him,  and  forsake 
them,  and  consecrate  ourselves  anew  to  the  service  and  cause 
of  Christ,  that  we  may  build  up  and  not  destroy  the  household 
of  faith. 

"  It  is  a  time  that  calls  for  firmness  and  moderation.  i  United 
we  stand,  divided  we  fall.'  No  difference  of  opinion  respecting 
Church  polity  should  divide  us,  unless  it  be  such  as  to  involve 
conscience  or  a  sacrifice  of  moral  principle.  Here  I  take  my 
stand.  The  brethren  may  do  what  they  will,  provided  they 
do  not  require  me  against  my  conscience  and  principles  to 
participate  in  measures  ruinous  to  the  peace  of  the  Church 
and  dangerous  to  the  country,  and  I  am  with  them.  Beyond 
this  point  how  could  I  go  ?    May  I  not  be  put  to  the  trial ! " 

The  Sunday -School  Advocate  was  established  by 

*  t       J  Sunday-School 

the  General  Conference  of  1844.    D.  P.  Kidder  Advocate  es- 

-i     ,    j  , ].,  tablisbed. 

was  elected  the  editor. 


190 


MANUAL  OF 


PERIOD  IV. 

JS"  E  W   LIFE.      1  8  4  8-  1  8  7  2. 

CHAPTER,  XXII. 

General  conferences  of  i848  and  1852— events  of  quad- 

RENNIUM  1848-1852. 

The  sixteenth  General  and  tenth  delegated  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  assemhled  in  Liberty  Street  Church, 
Pittsburg,  Pa.,  May  1,  1848.  Pishops  Hedding,  Waugh,  Mor- 
ris, Ilamline,  and  Janes  were  present.  There  were  one  hundred 
and  fifty-one  delegates,  representing  twenty-three  Annual  Con- 
ferences. Many  of  these  delegates  had  passed  through  the  long 
and  terrible  ordeal  of  1844,  and  had  during  the  quadrennium, 
because  of  slavery,  been  compelled  to  see  the  Church  disrupted 
by  the  secession  of  the  Conferences  located  in  the  South.  These 
godly  men,  who  had  been  true  to  principle  and  stood  by  the 
Church  against  the  attacks  of  partisanship  and  ignorant  preju- 
dice were  grieved  at  the  havoc  made  in  the  Church  and  the 
decimation  of  her  ranks.  They  were  not  however,  disheart- 
ened, but  looked  forward  to  a  time  when  the  wisdom  of  their 
ecurse  should  bo  vindicated.  Joseph  M.  Trimble,  Jesse  T. 
Peek,  and  John  Frazer  were  elected  secretaries. 

For  some  unexplained  reason  the  bishops  did  not  present  a 
No  address  by  formal  address  to  the  Conference  as  to  their  work 
the  bishops.    anj  t]10  sfcate  of  tllc  Church.    Probably,  since  the 

quadrennium  had  been  one  of  unusual  strife  and  turmoil,  they 
considered  it  better  not  to  recall  those  incidents.  From  time 
to  time  they  gave  short  statements  of  such  matters  as  were 
brought  before  the  General  Conference.  Before  the  Commit- 
tee on  Episcopacy  Bishop  Hedding  gave  a  full  account  of  the 
manner  in  which  the  bishops  had  met  the  questions  arising 
from  the  separation  of  the  Southern  Conferences. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  ClIUKCII  HISTORY. 


191 


"Immediately  after  the  action  of  the  General  Conference 
[in  the  case  of  Bishop  Andrew]  Bishop  Andrew  re-  Non-assi^n- 
tnrned  to  his  home.  After  he  left  New  York  lie  Htohop™* 
addressed  a  note  to  Bishop  Soule  assigning  the  rea-  drew, 
sons  for  his  departure,  stating  that  he  did  not  know  whether  the 
bishops  would  feel  authorized,  in  view  of  the  action  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  to  assign  him  a  place  among  them  for  the  next 
four  years.  This  letter  contained  neither  a  request  nor  a  re- 
fusal to  take  regular  appointments.  In  this  state  of  affairs,  when 
the  bishops  came  to  meet  for  the  arrangement  of  their  episco- 
pal labor  for  the  four  years,  a  difference  of  opinion  was  found 
to  exist  as  to  the  propriety  of  assigning  to  Bishop  Andrew  his 
appropriate  share  of  episcopal  service.  The  majority  of  them 
believed  that  it  was  the  design  of  the  General  Conference  to 
devolve  on  him  the  responsibility  of  determining  whether,  in 
view  of  their  action,  he  would  £  desist 7  from  the  exercise  of  the 
episcopal  office  or  whether  he  would  not,  and  therefore  they 
did  not  feel  themselves  warranted  in  calling  him  out.  Under 
this  view,  Bishops  Iledding,  Waugli,  Morris,  and  Hamline  ap- 
pended their  names  to  the  following  document : 

" '  It  is  our  opinion,  in  regard  to  the  action  of  the  late  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  the  case  of  Bishop  Andrew,  that  opinionofthe 
it  was  designed  by  that  body  to  devolve  the  respon-  blsh°Ps- 
sibility  of  the  exercise  of  the  functions  of  his  office  exclusively 
on  himself.  In  the  absence  of  Bishop  Andrew  at  the  time  of 
arranging  the  Plan  of  Episcopal  Visitation  for  the  ensuing  four 
years,  and  he  not  having  notified  us  of  his  desire  or  purpose  with 
respect  to  it,  we  should  regard  ourselves  as  acting  in  contraven- 
tion of  the  expressed  will  of  the  General  Conference  if  we 
apportioned  to  Bishop  Andrew  any  definite  portion  thereof. 
But  if  he  shall  hereafter  make  a  written  application  for  a 
portion  of  the  general  oversight  we  shall  feel  ourselves  justified 
in  assigning  it  to  him.' 

"  In  consequence  of  this  the  name  of  Bishop  Andrew  was  left 
out  of  the  regular  Plan  of  Episcopal  Visitation  for  the  two  episcopal 
ensuing  four  years.    The  bishops,  however,  took  the  plans' 
precaution  to  prepare  a  second  plan,  including  his  name,  which, 


192 


MANUAL  OF 


was  to  take  effect  upon  Bishop  Andrew's  making  a  1  written  appli- 
cation '  for  his  portion  of  the  episcopal  oversight.  The  object  of 
this  was  to  leave  the  responsibility  of  determining  the  question 
precisely  where  the  General  Conference  had  placed  it.  They 
also  provided  that  should  such  '  written  application'  be  made,  the 
senior  bishop  might  cause  the  second  plan  to  be  published  in 
connection  with  such  application,  that  the  reason  for  the  sub- 
stitution of  the  second  plan  might  accompany  its  publication. 
"  Thus  matters  stood  when  Bishop  Soule,  in  the  fall  of  1844, 
on  his  individual  responsibility,  called  out  Bishop 

Soule  invites  . 

Audrewtoas-  Andrew  by  inviting  him  to  accompany  him  in  his 
tour  of  the  Southern  Conferences,  and  assist  him  in 
his  episcopal  work.  In  his  letter  to  Bishop  Andrew,  Bishop 
Soule  holds  forth  the  following  language :  '  It  has  often  been 
asked,  through  the  public  journals  and  otherwise,  why  Bishop 
Andrew  was  not  assigned  his  regular  portion  of  the  episcopal 
work  for  the  ensuing  four  years,  on  the  Plan  of  Yisitation 
formed  by  the  bishops,  and  published  in  the  official  papers.  It 
devolves  on  the  majority  of  my  colleagues  in  the  episcopacy  (if, 
indeed,  we  have  any  episcopacy),  rather  than  on  me,  to  answer 
this  question.' "  * 

A  ray  of  sunshine  in  the  Conference  of  1848  was  the  presence 
of  Rev.  James  Dixon,  D.D.,  one  of  the  great  men  of 

Dr.  Dixon,  . 

British  dele-  British  Methodism,  as  its  accredited  representative. 
gate"  His  address  to  the  Conference  was  scholarly,  fra- 

ternal, and  full  of  love.  He  alluded  to  the  unhappy  separation 
of  the  Church,  growing  out  of  the  connection  of  one  of  the 
bishops  with  slavery,  and  expressed  his  deep  regret  that  any 
such  cause  of  separation  should  have  arisen.  Dr.  Dixon  also 
expressed  the  sentiments  of  the  Wesleyan  body,  declaring  that 
their  sympathies  were  entirely  on  the  side  of  liberty. 

"  On  our  part,  we  should  say,"  adds  the  General  Conference 
Reply  of  the  *n  lts  reply  to  the  British  Conference,  "that  while 
conference.  a]i  our  sympathies  lie  in  the  same  direction,  and  it  is 
our  purpose  still,  as  heretofore,  to  bear  steadily  our  testimony 
against  the  great  evil  of  slavery,  and,  within  our  legitimate 

*  Life  and  Times  of  Hedding,  pp.  597-599. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


193 


sphere  as  a  Church,  to  discountenance  it,  and  seek  its  removal, 
we  nevertheless  have  long  been  satisfied  that  our  brethren  in 
other  countries,  occupying  a  distant  stand-point,  and  therefore 
not  clearly  comprehending  the  complicated  conditions  of  this 
extremely  difficult  subject,  have  not  been  able  to  do  full  jus- 
tice to  our  policy  and  conduct  as  a  Church  in  regard  to  this 
matter.  They  may  have  thought  that  we  should  have  acted 
with  more  directness  and  decision.  Feeling  ourselves  within 
the  complications  of  this  great  evil,  whose  effects  are  felt 
throughout  the  sacred,  social,  and  political  relations  of  this 
country,  it  becomes  us  to  act  prudently  and  in  the  fear  of  God, 
and  strive  to  consider  well,  and  settle  all  things  on  the  surest 
and  best  foundations  for  the  promotion  of  his  glory  and  the 
peace  and  prosperity  of  the  Church." 

Dr.  Lovick  Pierce,  on  the  third  day  of  the  session,  sent  to  the 
Conference  a  letter  stating  that  he  was  present  as  Lovick  pierce, 
the  accredited  representative  of  the  Methodist  Epis-  f^ga™fror" 

i  1        the  Church, 

copal  Church,  South,  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  south. 
Church.  The  letter  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  State 
of  the  Church.  On  May  5  the  General  Conference  returned 
the  reply  that  as  there  were  "  serious  questions  and  difficulties 
existing  between  the  two  bodies,"  they  declined,  "  at  present,  to 
enter  into  fraternal  relations  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,"  but  tendered  to  Dr.  Pierce  "all  personal 
courtesies,"  and  invited  him  to  attend  the  sessions,  and  agreed  to 
receive  and  entertain  any  propositions  from  him  or  any  other 
representatives  of  the  Church,  South,  looking  to  the  settle- 
ment of  existing  difficulties.  Dr.  Pierce  declined  the  personal 
courtesy  offered.  "  Within  the  bar,"  said  he,  "  I  can  only  be 
known  in  my  official  character.  You  will  therefore  regard 
this  communication  as  final  on  the  part  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South.  She  can  never  renew  the  offer  of 
fraternal  relations  between  the  two  great  bodies  of  Wesleyan 
Methodists  in  the  United  States.  But  the  proposition  can 
be  renewed  at  any  time,  either  now  or  hereafter,  by  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  and,  if  ever  made  on  the  basis 
of  the^  Plan  of  Separation'  as  adopted  by  the  General  Con- 


MANUAL  OF 


ference  of  1844,  the  Church,  South,  will  cordially  entertain  the 
proposition." 

Among  other  acts  of  this  session  were  the  following: 

1.  In  response  to  many  petitions  the  revision  of  the  hymn- 

book  was  ordered,  and  a  most  competent  committee 

Hymn-book  ,  , 

ordered  to  was  appointed,  namely,  David  Dailey,  of  Philadel- 
be  revised.  conference  .  J.  B.  Alverson,  Genesee  Confer- 

ence ;  James  Floy,  New  York  Conference ;  David  Patten,  Jr., 
Providence  Conference  ;  F.  Merrick,  Ohio  Conference;  Robert 
A.  West,  of  Brooklyn,  and  David  Creamer,  of  Baltimore. 
West  and  Creamer  were  laymen.  The  work  of  these  men  was 
to  be  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  the  "editors  and  Book 
Committee  at  Xew  York,  and  the  bishops,"  and  when  approved 
by  them  it  was  to  be  printed  at  the  Book  Concerns. 

2.  On  May  12  A.  L.  P.  Green,  C.  B.  Parsons,  and  Lovick 
commission  Fierce,  and  John  Early,  "  appointee,"  or  agent,  pre- 
ersof  church,  sented  their  letter  as  commissioners  from  the  Church, 

South,  for  the  settlement  and  adjustment  of  all  mat- 
ters connected  with  their  separation  from  the  Church.  A  tran- 
script from  the  Journal  of  their  General  Conference,  signed  by 
Bishop  Soule,  was  presented,  showing  their  authority  to  act 
for  and  in  behalf  of  the  Church,  South.  The  matter  concern- 
ing the  division  of  funds  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the 
State  of  the  Church.  It  having  been  determined  that  the  An- 
nual Conferences  had  not  given  the  requisite  vote  for  a  change 
of  the  sixth  Restrictive  Pule,  by  which  the  agents  of  the  Book 
Concern  were  at  liberty  to  make  a  settlement  or  division  of  the 
funds  of  the  Concern,  it  was  proposed  to  submit  the  matter  to 
arbitration.  This  was  not  accepted  by  the  Church,  South. 
They  appealed  to  Caesar. 

3.  Bishop  Soule  sent  a  letter  to  the  General  Conference, 
Bishop souie's  under  date  of  May  10,  1848,  in  which  he  claimed 
,etter'  that  he  held  himself  amenable  to  the  General  Con- 
ference cf  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  all  his  acts  up  to 
May  1,  1846,  that  being  the  time  when  he  gave  in  his  adherence 
to  the  Church,  South.  Bishop  Souie's  letter  was  not  difficult 
to  understand,  nor  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  written.    He  said, 


METHODIST  EriSCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


lor, 


"  The  chief  object  of  my  attendance  at  the  present  session  of 
your  body  is  to  ascertain  whether  there  are  any  charges  to  be  pre- 
ferred against  me,  and,  if  so,  to  answer  to  them  as  best  I  may." 
The  Conference  resolved,  "  That  it  is  the  sense  of  this  General 
Conference  that  they  have  no  jurisdiction  over  the  Rev.  Bishop 
Sonle,  and  can  exercise  nu  ecclesiastical  authority  over  hiin." 

4.  The  schools  under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  Church  were 
eight  colleges  and  thirty-four  seminaries  of  various 

ranks.  Some  of  the  last  class  have  since  developed 
into  strong  and  excellent  colleges.  It  was  the  desire  of  the  Con- 
ference that  in  all  the  schools  of  Methodism  the  express  and 
distinctive  doctrines  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  should 
be  fully  and  clearly  taught.  At  the  same  time  these  schools 
"  must  comprehend  the  whole  circle  of  learning  and  be  open 
to  all."  They  also  said  in  words  that  are  golden,  u  The  progress 
of  society  in  matters  of  knowledge  and  in  skill  in  execution 
imperiously  demands  a  corresponding  advance  in  the  Christian 
ministry.  It  will  be  impossible  for  us  worthily  to  fulfill  our 
mission  as  a  Church  unless  our  ministry  shall  be  in  advance  of 
the  people  in  knowledge  as  well  as  in  spirituality.  We  must 
fully  measure  up  to  the  standard  prescribed  by  our  Saviour  to 
his  evangelists ;  we  must  bo  able  to  bring  from  our  treasures 
things  new  and  old.  There  never  was  a  period  in  the  history 
of  the  Church  when  this  ability  was  more  necessary.  The  very 
foundations  of  our  holy  Christianity,  as  well  as  its  essential 
principles,  are  undergoing  a  severe  scrutiny.  The  light,  as  well 
as  the  ambition  and  wickedness  of  the  past,  are  brought  to  the 
investigation.  The  consciousness  of  what  is  true  and  present 
in  the  life  of  the  Church  must  also  be  earnestly  contended  for 
and  pressed  into  the  glorious  conflict.  For  by  means  of  those 
keen  collisions  God  will  establish  the  kingdom  of  his  Son, 
chiefly  by  the  pure  and  powerful  preaching  of  his  word.  How 
important,  then,  is  it  that  every  minister  should  rightly  divide 
the  word  of  God,  and  give  to  each  a  portion  in  due  season  ! " 

5.  After  considerable  debate  the  old  rule  of  Mr.  Temperance. 
Wesley  regarding  spirituous  liquors  was  adopted  and  restored 
to  the  Discipline. 


1<JG 


MANUAL  OF 


6.  The  state  of  the  Church  was  fully  and  carefully  consid- 
pian  of  sepa-  ered-  Br.  George  Peck  was  chairman  of  the  coin- 
ration  over-  inittee,  and  lie  was  not  disposed  to  pass  lightly 

thrown  by  r  mi  -.  . 

the  church,  over  any  assaults  upon  Methodism.  1  he  relations 
Soutb-  of  the  Church  with  the  Southern  Church  were 

thoroughly  investigated.  The  "  Plan  of  Separation,"  so 
called,  adopted  by  the  General  Conference  in  1844,  they  recog- 
nized as  in  a  certain  sense  a  plan.  But  to  be  a  binding  plan 
required  that  both  parties  be  faithful  in  its  observance.  They 
found  three  respects  in  which  it  was  not  binding  upon  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  :  1)  It  had  not  received  the  requi- 
site votes  of  the  Annual  Conferences  to  enable  the  General 
Conference  to  alter  the  sixth  Restrictive  Pule  and  allow  a  divis- 
ion of  the  funds  of  the  Book  Concern  and  of  the  Chartered 
Fund.  2)  The  many  infractions  of  the  Plan  by  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  as  in  her  Louisville  Convention  of 
1845,  her  General  Conference  of  1S46,  the  acts  of  the  bishops 
of  the  Church,  South,  in  their  administrations  within  the  Bal- 
timore Conference,  the  Ohio  Conference,  and  the  Philadelphia 
Conference,  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the  bishops.  3)  The 
indorsement  of  the  administration  of  the  Southern  bishops  by 
the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South.  "  They  have,  therefore,  in  advance  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  overthrown  the  Plan,  and  have  left  none  of 
it  remaining  for  us  to  overthrow  ;  and  now,  in  pronouncing  it 
null  and  void,  the  South  have  compelled  to  this  action." 

7.  Abel  Stevens  was  elected  editor  of  the  Christian  Advo- 

cate and  Journal,  but  resigned,  and  Br.  George  Peck 
was  elected  in  his  place.  John  McClintock  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Review;  Matthew  Simpson  was 
elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate;  B.  F.  Tefft, 
editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository;  William  Hunter,  editor  of  the 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  William  Nast,  editor  of  the 
Christian  Apologist;  William  Ilosmer,  editor  of  the  Northern 
Christian  Advocate;  and  Baniel  P.  Kidder,  editor  of  the  Sun- 
day-School Advocate.  George  Lane  was  elected  book  agent 
at  New  York,  and  Levi  Scott  assistant.     Leroy  Swormstedt 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


11)7 


was  elected  book  agent  at  Cincinnati,  and  John  II.  Power 
assistant.    Charles  Pitman  was  elected  missionary  secretary. 

8.  The  General  Conference  formed  six  new  Conferences, 
making  the  whole  number  of  Conferences  twenty- 

*  Conferences 

nine.    The  new  Conferences  were  New  York  East, 
Western  Virginia,  East  Maine,  Wisconsin,  East  Genesee,  and 
Missouri.    Petitions  had  been  presented  for  a  German  Confer- 
ence, but  this  was  not  established. 

0.  There  was  a  general  feeling  that  a  true  history  of  the 
transactions  of  Methodism  from  1844  to  1848  ought 

.  History  of  Se- 

to  be  written  and  sent  out  to  the  world.  lie  v.  cession  to  be 
Charles  Elliott  was  appointed  to  write  such  a  history  written- 
after  such  manner  as  he  might  decide  most  convenient.  As  a 
result  of  his  industry  the  Church  has  his  great  work,  published 
in  1855,  entitled,  History  of  the  Great  Secession  from  the 
Methodist  Ejplscojjal  Church  in  the  Year  1845.  Itvis  an  ex- 
haustive and  complete  repository  of  facts,  discussions,  resolu- 
tions, and  other  documents  concerning  the  slavery  struggle 
from  1758,  through  the  great  secession  of  1845,  and  on  to 
1850.  It  will  ever  remain  as  the  most  reliable  and  ample 
source  of  information  concerning  this  conflict  and  the  disrup- 
tion of  the  Church. 

The  General  Conference  of  1848  closed  June  1,  after  an  har- 
monious session.    The  pastoral  address  sent  out  to  the 
Church  breathed  the  spirit  of  the  Master,  and  urged 
the  people  to  stand  by  the  doctrines  and  usages  of  Mr.  Wesley. 

During  the  following  quadrennium  Rev.  Charles  Pitman, 
D.D.,  who  had  been  missionary  secretary  from  1841,  pitman  re- 
was  disabled  by  sickness,  and  retired  from  the  office  !'™!™S  ™!' 
in  1850.  He  died  at  Trenton,  N.  J.,  June  14,  1854.  tary. 
Dr.  Pitman  was  a  close  and  diligent  student  and  had  accumu- 
lated a  large  library  ;  but  he  was  also  a  man  full  of  faith  and 
of  the  Holy  Ghost.  As  a  missionary  secretary  he  was  emi- 
nently successful.  Dr.  Durbin,  president  of  Dickinson  Col- 
lege, was  chosen  as  Pitman's  successor.  He  seemed  to  be  emi- 
nently  fitted  for  this  position,  in  which  he  continued  for  many 
years,  and  in  which  he  made  a  most  brilliant  record. 


198 


MANUAL  OF 


Dr.  Stephen  Olin,  one  of  the  great  names  in  Methodism,  was 
Death  of  Dr.  a  native  of  Leicester,  Vt.,  born  March  2,  1797.  He 
oiin.  graduated  at  Middlebnry  College  ;  was  principal  of 

Tabernacle  Academy,  South  Carolina ;  joined  South  Caro- 
lina Conference  in  1824,  and  was  elected  professor  of  English 
Literature  in  the  University  of  Georgia,  1826,  and  president 
of  Randolph  Macon  College  in  1832.  He  traveled  in  Europe 
from  1837  to  1841,  and  was  elected  president  of  Wesleyan 
University,  Middle  town,  Conn.,  1842.  He  died  August  15, 
1851.  Says  Dr.  McClintock  of  him,  "  In  beautiful  blending 
of  logical  argument  with  fiery  feeling  he  was  more  like  what 
we  know  Demosthenes  to  have  been  than  any  speaker  we  have 
listened  to  ;  and  his  power,  as  was  the  case  with  the  great 
Athenian  orator,  did  not  consist  in  any  single  quality,  in  force 
of  reasoning,  or  fire  of  imagination,  or  heat  of  declaration,  but 
in  all  combined." 

For  several  years  there  was  a  feeling  among  Methodist  peo- 
rx     *   .v,   pie  that  the  a^ed  of  the  Church  who  were  unfortu- 

Home  for  the  -l  © 

aged  in  New  nate  and  unable  to  care  for  themselves  ought  t  >  have 
a  home  or  retreat.  The  first  real  movement  took 
place  in  New  York  March  26,  1850.  In  June  following  the 
Ladies'  Aid  Society  was  organized  with  this  thought  in  view. 
"  A  house  was  hired  on  Horatio  Street,  and,  on  the  19th  of 
November,  1850,  was  opened  for  the  reception  of  inmates." 
This  work  grew  upon  the  hands  of  these  godly  women,  and 
larger  quarters  were  sought.  A  building  capable  of  accommo- 
dating one  hundred  persons  was  erected,  which  was  used  for 
many  years  ;  but  this  proving  too  small  another,  larger  and 
finer,  was  built  a  few  years  ago. 

The  ladies  in  Philadelphia  organized  June  14,  1S65,  to  ac- 
in  PMiadei-  complish  the  same  noble  work.  Mrs.  Bishop  Simpson 
phia.  was  t]ie  president  and  leader  in  the  movement.  The 

enterprise  was  pushed  and  a  building  erected  and  dedicated 
June  11,  1870,  which  cost  8100,000.  It  is  impossible  to  esti- 
mate the  good  done  by  this  enterprise.  Methodist  ladies  in 
other  cities  have  inaugurated,  or  are  inaugurating,  similar  en- 
terprises. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  199 


Bishop  Elijah  Iledding  was  born  in  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y., 
June  7,  1780,  and  died  at  Poughkeepsie  April  9,  tteamet Bisft- 
1852.  In  1799  lie  was  an  exhorter,  and  supplied  the  op 
place  of  Lorenzo  Dow,  who  had  left  his  circuit.  lie  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Conference  in  1801.  In  1807  he  was  presiding 
elder  on  New  Hampshire  District,  and  was  elected  a  bishop  in 
1S24.  He  was  from  the  first  of  his  preaching  a  prominent 
actor  in  Methodist  affairs.  As  the  senior  bishop  he  conducted 
himself  and  the  affairs  of  the  Church  through  the  great  seces- 
sion of  1845  with  most  perfect  self-possession.  His  administra- 
tion was  with  justice,  candor,  and  such  thoughtful ness  as  arises 
from  the  consciousness  of  acting  in  the  immediate  presence  of 
God.  "  For  clear  and  strong  intellect,  broad  and  commanding 
views,  administrative  ability,  and  deep  devotion,  combined  with 
amiability  and  gentleness,  Bishop  Iledding  has  had  few  equals, 
and  possibly  no  superiors,  in  the  Church." 

By  the  order  of  the  General  Conference  the  bishops  organized 
the  work  on  the  Pacific  coast  into  a  Conference, 
calling  it  the  Oregon  and  California  Mission  Confer-  Oregon  con- 
ence.  Rev.  Isaac  Owen,  of  Indiana,  was  the  first  ference- 
regularly  appointed  missionary,  receiving  his  appointment  in 
the  spring  of  1849  ;  and  Rev.  William  Taylor,  of  the  Baltimore 
Conference  (now  bishop),  soon  became  the  second.    Owen  went 

across  the  plains  with  farm- wagons,  drawn  by  oxen,"  and 
Taylor  purchased  a '  church  and  shipped  it  by  way  of  Cape 
Horn  to  San  Francisco.  Rev.  S.  D.  Simonds,  of  Michigan,  E. 
Bannister,  of  Genesee,  and  M.  C.  Briggs,  of  Erie  Conference, 
reached  California  in  1850.  Bannister  opened  a  school  at  San 
Jose.  Other  ministers  soon  arrived.  The  work  enlarged. 
October  10,  1851,  the  first  number  of  the  California  Christian 
Advocate  appeared.  The  editors  were  Briggs  and  Simonds. 
In  1852  Oregon  was  constituted  a  separate  Conference.  The 
growth  of  Methodism  in  California  has  been  remarkable. 

Most  of  the  Indian  missions  lay  within  the  territory  claimed 
by  the  Church,  South,  and  as  a  consequence  that    The  Wyan. 
Church  considered  them  as  properly  belonging  to  dottes. 
its  communion.    But  this  displeased  the  Wyandottes.  They 


200 


MANUAL  OF 


originally  resided  in  Ohio,  and  J.  B.  Finley  was  their  mission- 
ary several  years  from  1S23.  In  1843-44  the  band  was  re- 
moved to  the  Indian  Territory.  On  July  29,  1S48,  eighteen  of 
their  official  members  addressed  a  letter  to  Rev.  J.  B.  Finley 
from  the  Wyandotte  Nation,  Indian  Territory,  claiming  to  be 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  not  of  the 
Church,  South.  They  asked  that  a  missionary  be  sent  to  take 
charge  of  the  Church  among  them.  All  those  who  signed  the 
letter  were  official  members  but  three,  who  were  chiefs  of  the 
tribe.    A  missionary  was  accordingly  sent  them.* 

Threats  had  been  made  that  unless  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  divided  the  Book  Concern  and  Chartered 

The  suits. 

Fund  the  Church,  South,  would  enter  suit.  The 
General  Conference  did  not  believe  that  it  had  authority  to 
divide  these.    Its  reasons  for  refusing  to  do  so  were  as  follows  : 

1.  The  Annual  Conferences  had  refused  to  change  the  sixth 
Restrictive  Rule,  and  therefore  did  not  sanction  a  division. 

2.  To  divide  the  property  without  the  sanction  of  the  Annual 
Conferences  was  unconstitutional.  3.  The  resolutions  of  the 
General  Conference  of  1844,  designated  by  Dr.  Capers  as 
"  Plan  of  Separation,"  was  not  apian,  for  it  lacked  the  requisite 
concurrent  vote  of  the  Annual  Conferences.  4.  "  Voluntary 
arbitration,"  as  proposed,  was  decided  by  legal  gentlemen  to  be 
illegal  unless  sanctioned  by  the  Annual  Conferences.  5.  The 
General  Conference  proposed  to  secure  the  proper  sanction  of 
the  Annual  Conferences,  so  that  the  arbitration  would  be  legal, 
provided  the  Church,  South,  did  not  commence  suit.  August 
20,  1849,  Drs.  Bascom,  Green,  and  Parsons  gave  notice  that  as 
commissioners  of  the  Church,  South,  they  had  entered  suit  in 
the  United  States  circuit  courts  for  New  York,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Ohio. 

The  suit  in  Ohio,  filed  July  12,  1849,  was  heard  before  Judge 
Leavitt.    It  was  entitled,  "William  A.  Smith  and 
others  vs.  Leroy   Swormstedt  and  others."  The 
counsel  for  the  Church,  South,  were  R.  M.  Corwin,  Henry 
Stanberry,  and  Judge  Brien  ;  counsel  for  defense,  Adam  JS". 

*  Great  Secession,  p.  679. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  201 


Riddle,  Judge  Lane,  and  Thomas  Ewing.  The  case  was  well 
handled  by  these  attorneys.  It  opened  at  Columbus,  O.,  June 
24,  1852.  Argument  closed  July  2,  1852.  Judge  Leavitt  ren- 
dered his  decision  adverse  to  the  Church,  South.  The  seven 
points  made  by  Judge  Leavitt  are  worthy  of  careful  study  by 
the  student  of  Methodist  Church  history.  They  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  1.  That  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  is  a  delegated  or  representative  body,  with 
limited  constitutional  powers,  and  possesses  no  au-  ut'sTecisfon. 
thority,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  divide  the  Church. 

"  2.  That  in  the  adoption  of  the  Plan  of  Separation,  in  1844, 
there  was  no  claim  to  or  exercise  of  such  a  power. 

"  3.  That  as  the  General  Conference  is  prohibited  from  any 
application  of  the  produce  of  the  Book  Concern  except  for  a 
specified  purpose  and  in  a  specified  manner ;  and  as  the  Annual 
Conferences  have  refused  to  remove  this  prohibition,  by  chang- 
ing or  modifying  the  sixth  Restrictive  Rule,  the  General  Con- 
ference has  no  power  to  apportion  or  divide  the  Concern,  or  its 
produce,  except  as  provided  for  by  said  rule. 

"  4.  That  said  Book  Concern  is  a  charity,  devoted  expressly 
to  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  traveling,  supernumerary,  and 
superannuated  preachers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
their  wives,  widows,  and  children,  continuing  in  it  as  an  organ- 
ized Church ;  and  any  individual,  or  any  number  of  individ- 
uals, withdrawing  from  and  ceasing  to  be  members  of  the 
Church,  cease  to  be  beneficiaries  of  the  charity. 

"  5.  That  it  is  the  undoubted  right  of  any  individual  preacher 
or  member  of  said  Church,  or  any  number  of  preachers  or 
members,  or  any  sectional  portions  and  divisions  thereof,  to 
withdraw  from  it  at  pleasure ;  but  in  withdrawing  they  take 
with  them  none  of  the  rights  or  property  pertaining  to  them 
while  in  the  Church;  and  that  the  withdrawal  of  the  Southern 
and  South-western  Conferences  in  1845  being  voluntary,  and 
not  induced  by  any  positive  necessity,  is  within  the  principles 
here  stated. 

"  6.  That  the  defendants,  as  trustees  or  agents  of  the  Book 


202       •  MANUAL  OF 

Concern  at  Cincinnati,  being  corporators  under  a  law  of  Ohio, 
and  required  by  such  law  '  to  conduct  the  business  of  the  Book 
Concern  in  conformity  with  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
General  Conference,'  in  withholding  from  the  Church,  South, 
any  pait  of  the  property  or  proceeds  of  said  Book  Concern, 
have  been  guilty  of  no  breach  of  trust,  or  any  improper  use  or 
application  of  the  property  or  funds  in  tl>eir  keeping. 

"7.  That  this  is  not  a  case  of  a  lapsed  charity,  justifying  a 
court  of  equity  in  constructing  a  new  scheme  for  its  application 
and  administration ;  and  that  the  complainants  and  those  they 
represent  have  no  such  personal  claim  to,  or  interest  in,  the 
property  and  funds  in  controversy  as  will  authorize  a  decree  in 
their  favor,  on  the  basis  of  individual  rights.''  * 

The  suit  in  Xew  York  was  brought  by  H.  B.  Bascom  and 
suit  in  New  others  against  George  Lane  and  others,  before  Judges 
York.  Nelson  and  Betts,  in  the  United  States  Circuit,  Court 

for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York,  May  17-19, 1S51.  The 
counsel  for  the  Church,  South,  were  D.  Lord,  Beverdy  Johnson, 
and  Mr.  Johnson,  Jr.  The  counsel  for  the  defendants  were 
Bufus  Choate,  George  Wood,  and  E.  L.  Fancher.  The  consti- 
tutional question  was  well  discussed.  Judge  Kelson  rendered 
his  decision  against  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  After 
reviewing  the  arguments  he  said : 

"  As  it  respects  the  action  of  this  body  [the  General  Confer- 
Decision  of  ence  of  1844]  in  the  matter  of  division,  no  one  can 
judge  Nelson,  p^gtend  but  that  it  proceeded  upon  the  assumption  of 
unquestioned  power  to  erect  the  Church  into  two  separate  ec- 
clesiastical establishments.  Independently  of  this  question  of 
property  the  power  of  severance  is  written  on  every  page  of 
its  proceedings. 

"  The  separation  having  taken  place  in  pursuance  of  the 
action  of  the  competent  ecclesiastical  authority — by  the 
action  of  the  founders  of  the  fund  themselves — how  can  it 
be  maintained  that  the  Conferences,  falling  within  the  new 
organization,  have  forfeited  the  character  which  entitles 
them  to  its  enjoyment  \ 

*  See  Elliott's  Great  Secession,  pp.  794,  795. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  203 


"For  this  purpose  two  distinct  ecclesiastical  organizations,  we 
may  say  identically  the  same,  have  taken  the  place  of  the  one — 
the  same  Discipline,  faith,  and  doctrine — and  all  united  in 
spreading  the  same  Gospel  and  teachings  throughout  the  land. 

"Assume,  therefore,  that  the  General  Conference  was  dis- 
abled on  account  of  the  sixth  restrictive  article  from  appor- 
tioning this  fund,  the  law  steps  in  and  enforces  the  right." 

It  will  be  seen  that  Judge  Nelson  wholly  misunderstood  the 
facts  connected  with  the  act  of  the  General  Conference  of  1844 
and  the  secession  of  the  thirteen  Southern  Conferences.  He 
assumes  that  two  Churches  were  amicably  formed  out  of  one, 
than  which  nothing  can  be  further  from  the  truth.  This  de- 
cision of  Judge  Nelson  was  most  thoroughly  reviewed  and 
criticised. 

The  suit  in  Ohio  having  been  decided  against  the  Church, 
South,  it  appealed  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States.  The  case  was  heard  at  Washington  in  April,  1854. 
Judge  Nelson  was  chosen  to  deliver  the  decision,  which  he  did 
April  25,  1854.  It  was  substantially  the  same  as  he  had  de- 
livered in  the  New  York  case,  and  was  founded  on  the  same 
principle,  namely,  that  the  General  Conference  of  1844  de- 
stroyed one  Church  and  made  two.  This  decision  of  Justice 
Nelson  was  as  severely  criticised  by  the  public  and  press  as  the 
former.  His  errors  were  clearly  pointed  out  by  jurists,  but  it 
was  too  late  to  remedy  the  evil.  To  the  honor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  the  order  of  the  Court  was  carried  out 
to  the  letter;  and  while  it  was  believed  that  a  great  wrong  was 
done,  the  Church  bowed  to  the  decision  of  the  Court  and 
performed,  after  a  long  legal  battle,  what  it  had  itself  sought 
to  do  in  a  peaceable  manner  by  arbitration. 

During  this  quadrennium  three  schools  of  high  grade  were 
established.  The  Mount  Pleasant  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute, located  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  wras  chartered  Education- 
by  the  Territorial  Legislature  in  1849,  and  was  opened  for  st\> 
dents  in  1851.  In  1854  it  was  chartered  as  a  university,  and 
the  name  changed  to  that  of  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  University. 
It  has  been  favored  with  distinguished  names  on  its  list  of 


204 


MANUAL  OF 


presidents.  James  Harlan,  L.  W.  Berry,  Charles  Elliott,  George 
B.  Jocelyn,  Charles  A.  Holmes,  John  Wheeler,  Wesley  J. 
Spaulding,  and  J.  T.  McFarland  have  filled  the  office.  In 
connection  with  it  is  a  German  college  founded  by  John 
Wheeler  in  1873. 

The  University  of  the  Pacific  was  chartered  in  1851  as  the 
California  Wesleyan  College.  Tt  stands  midway  between  Santa 
Clara  and  San  Jose,  Cal.  Dr.  Bannister  opened  the  prepara- 
tory school  in  1852.  In  1855  it  was  rechartered  as  the  "  Uni- 
versity of  the  Pacific."  Its  presidents  have  been  Edward 
Bannister,  M.  C.  Briggs,  J.  W.  McClay,  T.  H.  Sinex,  A.  S. 
Gibbons,  A.  C.  Hirst,  C.  C.  Stratton,  and  Dr.  Crook,  the  present 
incumbent.  It  is  doing  an  admirable  work  in  the  line  of  Chris- 
tian and  scientific  education. 

The  Hamline  University  was  founded  at  Bed  Wing,  Minn., 
in  1854.  Bishop  Hamline  gave  it  $25,000.  It  is  now  located 
midway  between  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis.  It  has  had  a  hard 
struggle  for  existence,  but  it  has  survived  all  opposition  and  is 
on  the  highway  to  success. 

The  terrible  depletion  in  numbers  in  1845  had  not  been  re- 
gained by  1852,  but,  nevertheless,  there  had  been  a 
respectable  growth.  There  were  728,700  members, 
4,513  traveling  preachers,  and  5,767  local  preachers.  In  church 
property  there  had  been  a  handsome  increase.  The  character 
of  the  more  recently  built  churches  was  very  much  improved. 
Style,  size,  and  architectural  beauty  entered  into  the  construc- 
tion of  the  new  churches.  The  membership  of  Methodism  by 
industry  and  thrift  were  rapidly  gaining  property,  and  with  it 
came  the  opportunity  to  gratify  a  taste  for  the  beautiful. 
This  was  not  a  subject  for  censure.  In  the  Sunday-schools 
were  93,311  officers  and  teachers  and  473,311  scholars, 
1,260,558  volumes  in  the  libraries.  In  five  years  there  had  been 
an  increase  of  32,741  officers  and  teachers  and  152,681  scholars. 
During  the  same  time  there  were  47,327  conversions.  The 
missionary  contributions  had  increased  §60,000  over  those  of 
the  year  1848. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  205 


CIIAPTEK  XXIII. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1852— EVENTS  FOLLOWING. 

The  eleventh  delegated  and  seventeenth  General  Conference 
met  in  Bromfield  Street  Church,  Boston,  May  1,  1852.  Bish- 
ops Waugh,  Morris,  and  Janes  were  present.  Hedding  had 
died,  and  Hamline  was  disabled  by  failing  health.  The  Con- 
ference was  composed  of  one  hundred  and  eighty-eight  dele- 
gates. Joseph  M.  Trimble  was  elected  secretary,  and  C.  Adams, 
B.  Griffin,  and  W.  M.  Daily  were  elected  assistants. 

The  bishops'  address  referred  to  Bishop  Hedding,  deceased, 
in  highly  appreciative  terms,  pronouncing  him  an  Bishops' 
administrative  officer  "  unrivaled  in  the  soundness  address, 
of  his  opinions,  the  correctness  of  his  constitutional  views  and 
legal  decisions,  and  the  dignity  and  urbanity  of  his  manner."  It 
maintained  the  character  of  the  episcopacy  as  a  general  superin- 
tendency  and  not  diocesan.  The  worldly-mindedness  of  many 
in  the  Church  was  deprecated,  and  the  General  Conference  was 
urged  to  give  special  attention  to  the  spirituality  of  the  Church. 
The  spiritual  care  of  the  children  was  urged.  The  change  of 
ministerial  probation  from  two  years  to  four  years  was  discussed, 
and  its  many  advantages  presented  as  follows:  "1.  The 
time  of  probation,  as  it  now  exists,  is  too  short  to  allow  such  a 
development  of  candidates  as  to  enable  the  Conferences  to  judge 
soundly  of  their  suitableness  for  the  itinerant  ministry.  Neither 
mental,  nor  religious,  nor  moral  qualifications  can  be  so  fully 
exhibited,  especially  in  the  case  of  the  traveling  preacher,  as  to 
furnish  reasonable  data  for  an  enlightened  judgment  on  the 
part  of  an  Annual  Conference  as  to  his  fitness  to  be  received 
into  the  regular  pastorate  of  the  Church.  2.  The  period  is 
too  brief  to  admit  of  physical  developments  so  fully  as  to 
show  that  the  candidate  for  the  ministry  has  constitutional 
energies  adequate  to  the  work  which  is  to  be  performed. 


206 


MANUAL  OF 


3.  It  will  be  in  harmony  with  the  established  usage  of  our 
elder  brethren,  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  than  whom, 
perhaps,  no  Christian  Church  lias  a  more  efficient  organization 
and  well-adjusted  system  of  operation." 

Many  of  the  acts  of  the  General  Conference  of  1852  were 
of  unusual  importance.    Among  them  we  notice  : 

1.  Bishop  Hamline,  who  had  been  elected  inl814,  after  his  mas- 
_  .    ..       terly  constitutional  argument  in  the  General  Confer- 

Resignation  J  » 

of  Bishop  ence  of  that  year,  now  tendered  his  resignation  of  that 
office.  In  that  speech  he  had  held  that  it  was  not 
true  that  "once  a  bishop,  always  a  bishop;"  and  that  Bishop 
Andrew  could  be  legally  relieved  from  his  office.  As  long  as 
health  permitted  Bishop  Hamline  had  performed  his  work  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  Church;  but  now  heart  disease 
and  nervous  prostration  wholly  unfitted  him  for  labor.  His 
physician  forbade  any  attempt  to  work.  Consequently  he  sent 
to  the  General  Conference  on  May  10,  1852,  a  letter  tendering 
his  resignation  as  bishop,  accompanying  it  with  his  parchment 
of  ordination  as  such.  The  letter  of  resignation  was  exceed- 
ingly delicate,  tender,  and  sweet-spirited.  It  stood  firmly  by 
the  principles  which  he  had  so  forcibly  advocated  eight  years 
before.  It  was  the  utterance  of  a  heart  that  bore  nothing  but 
love  and  affection  for  his  peers.  The  young  Methodist  may 
read  it  as  a  most  remarkable  production,  and  as  an  excellent 
example  of  epistolary  literature. 

The  General  Conference  wras  at  first  reluctant  to  accept  the 
resignation  of  Bishop  Hamline,  but  at  last  it  was  accepted. 
Dr.  Ilibbard,  his  intimate  friend  and  biographer,  brings  for- 
ward some  reasons  for  this  action.  "  The  discussion  of  this 
report,"  says  Ilibbard,  "  prior  to  action,  presented  a  scene  of 
dignified  sorrow,  delicate  appreciations,  personal  sympathies, 
and  stern  adherence  to  church  principles  rarely  equaled  in  any 
deliberative  body.  On  the  one  hand,  to  accept  the  resignation 
would  settle  forever  the  doctrine  that  a  bishop  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  an  ecclesiastical  officer,  not  representing 
a  distinct  priestly  order',  while,  on  the  other  hand,  such  an  act 
would  be  a  great  loss  to  the  Church  and  her  episcopacy,  and  a 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  207 


seeming  disrespect  to  the  retiring  bishop."  There  was  a  feel- 
ing that  in  the  offer  and  acceptance  of  this  resignation  Bishop 
Ilamline  and  the  Church  were  indorsing  the  low  church  prin- 
ciple as  to  the  orders  in  the  ministry.  It  was  establishing  a 
precedent  that  in  future  years  would  be  of  great  importance  to 
the  Church.  It  would  meet  the  argument  that  Methodism 
holds  to  three  orders  of  ministry,  because  she  ordains  her 
bishops.  The  bishops  were  instructed  to  address  a  letter  to 
Bishop  Ilamline  stating  the  regret  of  the  Church  at  the  neces- 
sity of  this  resignation. 

"The  resignation  of  Bishop  Ilamline,"  says  Ilibbard,  "was 
the  subject  of  criticism  not  entirely  friendly  by  the  Church, 
South.  The  case  of  Bishop  Andrew,  at  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1844,  as  we  have  seen,  forced  the  Southern  delegates 
upon  the  ground  of  at  least  moderate  Puseyism.  Indeed,  they 
never  denned,  logically  or  theologically,  their  own  doctrine 
further  than  that  it  was  assumed  that  in  ordination  the  epis- 
copal candidate  received  something  which  he  thenceforward 
held  through  life,  or  till  6  excommunicated  by  clue  process  of 
trial.'  According  to  this  his  rank  must  be  priestly,  not  simply 
ecclesiastical;  held  jure  divino,  notjitre  Jiumano;  belonging  to 
the  essence,  not  the  economy,  of  the  Church;  made  to  stand 
upon  exact  parity  with  the  order  of  elder,  only  a  grade  higher. 
.  .  .  There  was  a  moral  grandeur  in  the  act  of  Bishop  Ilamline  in  ' 
resigning,  of  great  significance,  and  while  the  Church  regretted 
the  fact  they  approved  the  principle  involved  in  it.  The  right 
to  resign,  and  of  General  Conference  to  accept,  was  accord- 
ing to  the  doctrine  of  Wesley,  of  Asbury,  and  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church;  and  no  act,  simply  ecclesiastical,  has 
ever  occurred  in  the  history  of  our  Church  of  broader  import 
or  more  decisive  influence  upon  its  polity  in  the  generation  to 
come."  * 

2.  In  northern  Ohio,  from  1845  to  1848,  there  had  been 
sharp  discussion  on  the  question  of  secret  societies.  Secretsocie. 
One  party  held  that  it  was  wholly  incompatible  with  ties. 
Christianity  to  belong  to  a  secret  society.    The  other  party 

*Hibbard's  Biography  of  L.  L.  Hamline,  pp.  354,  368,  369. 


208 


MANUAL  OF 


denied  this,  and  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  upheld  the  existence 
of  these  societies.  The  discussion  waxed  warm.  It  was  finally 
taken  up  by  the  Church,  and  the  North  Ohio  Conference  in 
1845  passed  resolutions  advising  the  ministers  against  uniting 
with  secret  societies.  The  particular  society  aimed  at  was  the 
Masonic  fraternity.  Some  of  the  ministers  having  subsequently 
united  with  such  societies,  in  1848  their  character  was  inves- 
tigated, and  they  were  found  guilty  of  imprudent  conduct  in 
disregarding  the  advice  of  the  Conference.  The  matter  was 
brought  before  the  General  Conference,  which  decided  that  the 
action  of  the  North  Ohio  Conference  "  was  unauthorized  by 
the  Discipline." 

3.  The  book  agents  at  Cincinnati  were  instructed  to  estab- 
Nortn-west-  ^sn  a -depository  at  Chicago  and  publish  a  weekly 
em  christian  paper  there.    At  first  it  was  proposed  to  call  the 

paper  the  Prairie,  but  finally,  to  be  in  harmony 
with  the  family  of  Methodist  papers,  it  was  named  the  Worth- 
western  Christian  Advocate. 

4.  In  balloting  for  bishops  four  men  were  elected  on  the 

first  ballot,  namely,  Levi  Scott,  Matthew  Simpson, 
Osmon  C.  Baker,  and  Edward  P.  Ames.  Scott  was 
from  the  Philadelphia  Conference;  Baker,  from  the  New 
Hampshire;  Simpson  and  Ames,  from  the  Indiana.  Never  be- 
fore had  two  bishops  been  elected  at  the  same  time  from  one 
Conference.  Thomas  E.  Bond  was  elected  editor  of  the 
Christian  Advocate  and  Journal;  J.  P.  Durbin,  missionary 
secretary;  John  McClintock,  editor  of  Quarterly  Review; 
William  Hosmer,  editor  of  Northern  Christian  Advocate; 
D.  P.  Kidder,  editor  of  Sunday-School  Advocate ;  William 
Nast,  editor  of  Christian  Apologist ;  Charles  Elliott,  editor  of 
Western  Christian  Advocate ;  Leroy  Swormstedt  and  Adam 
Poe,  book  agents  at  Cincinnati ;  T.  Carlton  and  Z.  Phillips, 
book  agents  at  New  York;  J.  Y.  Watson,  editor  of  North- 
toestern  Christian  Advocate ;  S.  D.  Simonds,  editor  of  Cal- 
ifornia Christian  Advocate;  Homer  J.  Clarke,  editor  of 
Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  William  C.  Larrabee,  editor 
of  Ladies^  Repository. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


20'.) 


5.  There  were  formed  nine  new  Conferences.  The  South- 
east Indiana   Conference  was  formed    from  the 

Conferences. 

Indiana,  and  the  North-west  Indiana  from  the 
North  Indiana.  The  Kentucky,  Wyoming,  Cincinnati,  South- 
ern Illinois,  Arkansas,  Oregon,  and  California  Conferences 
were  the  other  new  Conferences.  The  Liberia  Mission  was 
left,  as  before,  unrepresented.  The  total  number  of  Conferences, 
including  the  last,  was  thirty-nine. 

6.  A  new  Catechism  had  been  authorized  in  1848,  and  the 
work  was  now  presented  and  adopted  as  being  sat-  New  Cat_ 
isfactory,  and  presenting  what  the  Church  desired.  eewsm. 
While  not  a  copy  of  other  existing  catechisms,  yet  it  was  found 
that  their  "  chief  excellences  have  been  combined  and  harmo- 
nized." It  was  commended  because  it  was  Arminian  in  theol- 
ogy, and  "one  Catechism"  in  plan,  though  issued  in  different 
numbers  for  the  use  of  different  periods  and  conditions  of  intel- 
ligence. 

7.  So  much  importance  was  attached  to  the  relation  of  the 
Sunday-school  to  the  Church  that  the  male  super-  Sunday- 
intendent.  when  a  member  of  the  Church  in  full   8Chools  and 

'  the  Tract  So- 

connection,  was  made  a  member  of  the  Quarterly  ciety. 
Conference,  "  with  the  right  to  speak  and  vote  on.  questions  re- 
lating to  Sunday-schools."  After  a  few  years  he  was  made  a 
member  with  full  power  in  the  Quarterly  Conference..  It  was 
also  voted  that  there  be  established  an  organization,  to- be  known 
as  the  Tract.  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  "  to 
diffuse  religious  knowledge,  by  the  circulation,  of  religious  tracts 
and  books,  in  the  English  and  other  languages,  in  our  own  and 
foreign  countries." 

8.  "  The  question  of  pewed  churches  was  brought  to  the 
attention  of  the  Conference  by  an  appeal  from  the  rewed 
action  of  the  Ohio  Conference  in  censuring  one  of  churches, 
its  ministers.  After  considerable  discussion  the  rule  forbid- 
ding their  erection  was  rescinded,  and  another  adopted  ex- 
pressing the  decided  judgment  of  the  Church  in  favor  of  free 
churches."* 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodismy]).  164. 

15 


210 


MANUAL  OF 


It  had  been  customary  in  reporting  the  membership  of  the 
„,    ._  ,.      Church  to  classify  them  as  white  and  colored;  but 

Classification  •»  " 

of  member-  this  General  Conference  ordered  that  all  members 
ship  omitted,  gj^jj  De  c]asse(j  lmder  the  same  head.  Since  then 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  has  not  in  its  publications 
distinguished  as  to  the  color  of  its  members,  but  has  considered 
them  as  being  all  of  one  color  in  the  Lord. 

After  an  unusually  harmonious  session  the  General  Confer- 
ence adjourned  June  1.  In  the  city  where  Jesse  Lee,  less  than 
seventy-five  years  before,  could  find  no  place  where  lie  might 
preach  except  on  Boston  Common,  and  where  he  had  wandered 
day  after  day  in  the  effort  to  find  a  room  he  might  rent  in  which 
to  hold  religious  services,  the  General  Conference  of  the  same 
Church  had  been  royally  entertained.  The  influence  of  the 
Conference  upon  Boston  Methodism  was  excellent.  It  gave  it 
a  forward  movement  that  has  borne  fruit  in  many  ways. 

This  quadrennium  was  not  noted  for  any  great  movement  in 
Events  of  the  Methodist  ecclesiastical  matters.  The  Church  had 
quadrennium.  reac}ie(j  a  point  where  it  could  grow  without  embar- 
rassment from  the  secessions  of  former  years.  The  question  of 
la}'  representation  was  agitated.  Some  conventions  were  held. 
Public  sentiment  was  being  manufactured  and  the  Church  edu- 
cated to  feel  that  possibly  the  admission  of  lay  representatives 
in  the  General  Conference  would  be  beneficial.  At  any  rate  it 
be^an  to  be  conceded  that  it  mio-ht  be  tried  without  damage  to 

O  o  o 

the  Church. 

The  North-western  University,  at  Evanston,  111.,  commenced 
its  brilliant  career  during  this  period.  It  was  pro- 
jected in  1850.  A  charter  was  obtained  in  1851. 
In  1853  Clark  T.  Ilinman,  D.D.,  was  elected  the  first  president. 
Land  was  purchased,  and  a  temporary  college  building  erected. 
A  faculty  was  chosen  in  1854,  and  the  school  opened  November 
1,  1S55.  Dr.  Ilinman  dying,  Rev.  R.  S.  Foster,  D.D.,  now 
bishop,  was  elected  president  in  1850.  In  1860  Henry  S. 
Noyes,  A.M.,  became  acting  president,  and  served  until  1869, 
when  Rev.  E.  O.  Haven,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  afterward  bishop,  was 
elected  president.    Since  then  its  presidents  have  been  :  Dr. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


211 


(now  Bishop)  C.  II.  Fowler,  1872-76;  Dr.  Joseph  Cumin ings, 
formerly  president  of  Wesleyan  University,  who  died  in  1890; 
and  Dr.  Henry  Wade  Rogers,  the  present  incumbent. 

Methodism  was  horn  in  a  college,  and  hns  fostered  higher 
education  from  the  first,  and  has  not  fo. gotten  the  theological 
education  of  its  ministry.  In  1S55  the  Legislature  of  Illinois 
granted  a  charter  for  a  theological  seminary  to  be  located  at 
Evanston,  111.  Mrs.  Eliza  Garrett,  the  widow  of  Augustus 
Garrett,  by  her  will  provided  liberally  for  the  endowment  of 
this  school.  In  the  summer  of  1856  a  faculty  was  selected. 
Dr.  John  Dempster  was,  until  his  death  in  1863,  the  senior  pro- 
fessor, and  among  the  other  professors  have  been  Drs.  D.  P. 
Kidder,  Henry  Bannister,  F.  D.  Hemenway,  Miner  Raymond, 
and  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Ninde.  There  was  some  opposition  to 
the  name  of  theological  seminary,  and  it  was  therefore  called,  as 
a  sort  of  concession,  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  The  "  name 
has  grown  respectable  by  honorable  wear  and  use,"  and  there 
can  be  no  reason  now  for  a  change.  As  a  biblical  institute  it 
has  wrought  a  good  work,  educated  many  ministers  who  have 
taken  high  positions  in  the  Church,  and  sent  out  godly  men  to 
cultivate  Iminanuel's  land.  In  1879  Dr.  Ninde  became  j)resi- 
dent,  and  was  followed  by  Dr.  Ridgaway  in  1884,  who,  with  an 
able  faculty,  is  doing  grand  work. 

In  1851  Borden  town  Female  College,  Bordentown,  N.  J., 
was  founded;  in  1853,  Beaver  College,  Beaver,  Pa.;  in  1854, 
Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  Fort  Edward,  N.  Y.,  Pitts- 
burg Female  College,  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  Moore's  Hill  College, 
Moore's  Hill,  Ind.,  and  Umpqna  Academy,  Wilbur,  Ore. ;  and 
in  1856,  Chaddock  College,  Quincy,  111. — the  last  for  some  years 
being  conducted  merely  as  a  seminary.  Other  institutions  of 
less  note  were  also  founded  during  this  period. 

During  this  quadrennium  many  Scandinavians  came  to 
America,  many  of  whom,  after  a  time,  were  brought  Scandinavian 
under  the  influence  of  Methodist  preachers.  Soon  Mission- 
they  began  to  write  back  to  friends  in  Europe,  and  now  and  then 
a  converted  Scandinavian  returned  to  his  native  land,  his  heart 
full  of  his  new-found  treasure.    The  simple  story  of  the  cross  of 


212 


MANUAL  OF 


Christ,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  coming  into  the  soul,  touched  their 
hearts,  arid  some  were  converted.  They  then  asked  Methodism 
to  send  them  preachers.  In  1853  the  first  Scandinavian  Mission 
was  begun  in  Norway.  From  Norway  the  work  spread  to  Den- 
mark. Next  it  reached  Sweden.  Now  all  three  of  these 
countries  hear  the  preaching  and  teaching  of  Methodism, 
churches  are  built,  souls  are  converted,  and  the  kingdoms  are 
feeling  the  gracious  power. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  213 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1856— EVENTS  TO  1860. 

The  twelfth  delegated  and  eighteenth  General  Conference 
assembled  in  the  State  House  of  Indiana  at  Indianapolis,  May 
1,  1856.  Bishops  Waugh,  Morris,  Janes,  Scott,  Simpson,  Baker, 
and  Ames  were  present.  William  L.  Harris  was  made  secretary, 
and  Benjamin  Griffin,  S.  D.  Simonds,  John  S.  Martin,  Jefferson 
Lewis,  and  James  Hill  assistant  secretaries.  Simonds  declined 
to  serve. 

From  the  British  Conference  came  Rev.  John  Hannah,  D.D., 
and  Rev.  Frederick  James  Jobson,  two  most  worthy  Foreign  visit- 
and  cultured  gentlemen,  fine  representatives  of  the  ors* 
Methodism  of  England.  They  were  the  first  delegates  since 
the  visit  of  Dr.  Dixon  in  1848.  Dr.  Hannah  was  tutor  at 
the  Theological  Institute  at  Didsbnry,  and  was  greatly  es- 
teemed as  an  able  expounder  of  the  Scriptures.  Mr.  Jobson 
was  a  much  younger  man  than  his  companion,  but  "  he  was  an 
earnest  and  powerful  preacher,  standing  high  among  his  breth- 
ren." After  returning  to  England  he  was  sent  to  Australia  as 
the  representative  of  English  Wesleyanism.  The  public  service 
of  these  men  in  America  was  highly  edifying  to  Americans, 
and  equally  creditable  to  the  Church  they  represented. 

Rev.  Robinson  Scott  was  the  representative  from  the  Irish 
Conference.  Dr.  Scott  was  also  commissioned  to  solicit  money 
in  America  to  aid  in  the  establishment  oi  the  Methodist  Col- 
lege, the  Wesleyan  connectional  school  at  Belfast,  Ireland.  His 
efforts  were  crowned  with  success.  The  building  was  erected, 
and  a  college  opened  with  Rev.  William  Arthur,  A.M.,  as  first 
president,  and  Dr.  Scott  as  theological  tutor.  Mr.  Arthur  had 
been  detached  from  the  Wesleyan  Church  of  England  in  order 
to  undertake  this  work. 


214 


MANUAL  OF 


Rev.  John  Ryerson  and  Rev.  Richard  Jones  represented  the 

Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  in  Canada.    An  ad- 
Address  from  ,   -  ■,     -n  ^  a 
the    French  dress  was  received  irom  the  French  Conference,  m 

church.        which  the  progress  of  Methodism  among  the  French 

people  was  well  depicted.  They  showed  how  many  doors  were 

open  for  the  entrance  of  Methodism  in  the  south  as  well  as 

the  north  of  France,  and  that  the  want  of  men  and  means  was 

all  that  hindered  a  large  advance  in  the  spread  of  the  Methodist 

Church  in  that  Roman  Catholic  country. 

The  bishops'  address  at  this  time  was  more  of  a  detail  of  the 
Bishops' ad-  condition  of  the  Church  than  had  been  given  iif 
dress.  previous  addresses.    They  spoke  of  Bishop  Scott's 

visit  to  Africa  in  1852-53,  to  hold  the  Liberia  Conference, 
which  was  followed  by  a  long  period  of  sickness  contracted  on 
the  coast.  They  pointed  out  some  changes  of  Discipline  which 
would  add  to  the  efficiency  of  Methodism.  They  entered  a 
strong  plea  for  the  establishment  and  building  up  of  Methodist 
schools,  and  suggested  that  biblical  schools  for  the  training  of 
young  preachers  be  made  responsible  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence, so  that  their  teaching  and  management  should  be  in  har- 
mony with  the  Doctrines  and  Discipline  of  the  Church.  The 
publishing  interests  were  carefully  reviewed,  showing  that  the 
Methodist  periodicals  had  295,401  subscribers,  and  that 
9,097,840  single  copies  had  been  sent  out  in  a  year,  and  the 
Sunday-School  Advocate  had  reached  an  unprecedented  circu- 
lation of  114,692  subscribers.  They  presented  the  great  work 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  recommended  that  provision  be  made 
for  more  efficient  episcopal  supervision  in  Africa,  and  lamented 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  missionaries.  Before  closing  they 
referred  to  the  action  of  the  Troy,  Erie,  North  Ohio,  and  Wis- 
consin Conferences  4n  asking  for  a  change  in  the  general  rule 
on  slavery,  and  discussed  the  question  of  the  administration  of 
the  Church  in  territory  where  slavery  existed.  The  spirit  of  the 
address  was  most  excellent,  and  it  was  received  in  the  same 
spirit  by  the  General  Conference. 

At  this  session  of  the  General  Conference  there  were 
thirty-five  petitions  presented,  representing  about  four  hundred 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


215 


private  and  official  members,  praying  for  changes  in  the  func- 
tions of  presiding  elders.  Some  wanted  the  presid-  presiding 
ing  elder  appointed  to  a  charge  and  made  chairman  eldership, 
of  a  district ;  others,  that  each  Annual  Conference  be  left  to 
regulate  its  own  policy  in  regard  to  the  matter ;  others,  that 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  and  other  large  cities  be  left  without 
presiding  elders.  There  were  also  five  remonstrances  from 
Quarterly  Conferences  against  any  change.  The  deliberations 
resulted  in  no  change  being  made.' 

There  was  much  discussion  on  the  propriety  of  an  extension 
of  the  time  that  a  preacher  might  remain  in  one  The  time 
charge  from  two  years  to  three  years  or  more.  The  limit" 
committee  reported  against  a  change,  and  their  report  was 
adopted  by  a  vote  of  127  to  91.  This  was  only  a  case  of  hope 
deferred. 

Permission  was  granted    to    the    Liberia   Conference  to 
elect  an  elder  in  good  standing  to  the  office  of     Bishop  for 
bishop,  and  the  bishops,  or  any  one  of  them,  wTere  Africa, 
to  ordain  the  man  so  elected,  to  have  episcopal  jurisdiction  in 
Africa  only. 

The  bishops  were  instructed  to  organize  the  German  mis- 
sionaries of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  German  Mis_ 
Germany  into  a  Mission  Conference.  In  September,  sion  confer- 
1856,  the  Mission  Conference  was  organized  by  Rev. 
L.  S.  Jacoby,  the  superintendent  of  the  Mission,  with  9  traveling 
and  7  local  preachers,  428  members,  and  99  probationers.  The 
next  year  (1857)  Bishop  Simpson  made  the  first  episcopal  visita- 
tion. He  greatly  strengthened  the  cause  and  advanced  its 
standing  among  the  better  class,  and  imparted  to  it  a  unity  of 
spirit  and  concentration  of  purpose  greatly  needed.  At  first  it 
had  not  the  right  of  representation  in  the  General  Conference ; 
but  in  1868  it  was  granted  the  full  rights  and  privileges  of  an 
Annual  Conference,  under  the  title  of  the  Germany  and 
Switzerland  Conference,  its  territory  including,  besides  Ger- 
many, the  German-speaking  sections  of  Switzerland  and 
France.  The  influence  of  Methodism  on  Germany  is  steadily 
increasing. 


216 


MANUAL  OF 


A  paper  was  ordered  to  be  'published  at  Cincinnati  for 
German  sun-  tue  nse  °^  tne  German  Sunday  -schools.  The  Sonn- 
day-schooi  pa-  tagsckul-Glocke  was  soon  started,  and  has  reached  a 

circulation  of  40,000  copies. 
A  course  of  study  for  the  German  traveling  preachers  was 

adopted,  which,  while  not  including  Greek  and  He- 
course  of  brew,  was  intended  to  give  a  full  and  clear  knowl- 
study.  edge  of  systematic,  historical,  and  practical  theology. 

It  served  its  purpose  well,  and  has  only  been  slightly  modified 
since. 

It  being  the  fact  that  the  colored  youth  were  without 
Negro  educa-  means  or  opportunity  for  education,  even  in  most  of 
tion-  the  free  States,  the  question  of  how  they  should  be 

educated  was  of  serious  import.  The  matter  was  duly  con- 
sidered by  the  Conference,  and  this  body  determined  to  indorse 
certain  plans  already  proposed.  The  Wilberforce  University  ^ 
which  was  just  coming  into  existence,  became  the  center  of 
this  movement.  Hev.  Dr.  John  F.  Wright,  of  Cincinnati,  was 
one  of  its  prime  movers.  In  1863  the  university  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  Bishop 
Payne  was  given  the  general  supervision.  It  has  been  greatly 
useful. 

Thomas  Carlton  and  James  Porter  were  elected  book 
agents  at  New  York  ;  Leroy  Swormstedt  and  Adam 
Poe,  at  Cincinnati ;  Abel  Stevens,  editor  of  Christian 
Advocate  and  Journal  /  Calvin  Kingsley,  editor  of  Western 
Christian  Advocate;  D.  D.  Whedon,  editor  of  Quarterly 
Review  :  Daniel  Wise,  editor  of  Sunday-School  Advocate; 
James  Floy,  editor  of  National  Magazine;  D.  W.  Clark, 
editor  of  Ladies'1  Repository  /  John  P.  Durbin,  corresponding 
secretary  of  Missionary  Society;  F.  G.  Hibbard,  editor  of 
Northern  Christian  Advocate  /  Isaac  1ST.  Baird,  editor  of  Pitts- 
burg Christian  Advocate  ;  James  Y.  Watson,  editor  of  North- 
western Christian  Advocate ;  William  Kast,  editor  of  Chris- 
tian Apologist  /  Thomas  II.  Pearne,  editor  of  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate ;  Eleazer  Thomas,  editor  of  California  Christian 
Advocate ;  Joseph  Brooks,  editor  of  Central  Christian  Advo- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  217 


cate.  The  California  Christian  Advocate,  at  San  Francisco, 
had  been  provided  for  in  1852,  published  for  some  time,  and 
discontinued.  It  was  now  revived.  The  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate,  at  Portland,  Ore.,  and  the  Central  Christian  Advo- 
cate, at  St.  Louis,  had  been  started  as  private  enterprises,  and 
were  now  adopted  by  the  General  Conference.  Bishop  Simpson 
and  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  McClintock  were  elected  delegates  to 
the  British  Conference. 

During  the  quadrenninm  there  had  been  an  amicable  di- 
vision of  the  Chartered  Fund  with  the  Church,  chartered 
South,  thereby   obviating   litigation  and  scandal.  Fund  divided. 
This  action  of  the  trustees  was  especially  approved,  as  well  as 
the  principles  on  which  it  was  effected. 

After  a  long  and  tedious  effort  there  was  effected  a  settle- 
ment between  the  Western  Book  Concern  and  the  Settlement 
commissioners  of  the  Church,  South.  The  commis-  wl"i  church, 
sioners  from  the  South,  W.  A.  Smith,  A.  L.  P. 
Green,  and  C.  B.  Parsons,  made  at  last  a  proposition  to  J.  F. 
Wright,  E.  Thomson,  M.  Marley,  L.  Swormstedt,  and  A. 
Poe,  the  commissioners  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  to 
take  $80,000,  and  the  debts  owing  by  the  preachers  in  the 
Southern  Conferences.  This  was  accepted  February  15,  1855, 
and  a  payment  made  on  that  day  of  $15,000.  On  November 
1,  1856,  and  on  the  same  day  thereafter,  for  three  successive 
years,  a  payment  of  $10,000  was  to  be  made,  with  interest  at 
six  per  cent.  Books,  to  the  amount  of  $20,000,  were  to  be 
delivered  within  two  years,  and  the  final  payment  of  $5,000 
was  to  take  place  November  1,  I860.  The  debts  of  the 
Southern  preachers  were  $1.2,926.61.  A  large  number  of 
these  were  outlawed,  and  many  pronounced  worthless.  The 
General  Conference  fully  approved  of  the  acts  of  the  commis- 
sioners, and  the  agreement  was  carried  out  to  the  letter.  It 
was  agreed  that  the  New  York  Concern  should  pay  $191,000 
to  the  Church,  South,  and  transfer  the  printing  establishments 
at  Richmond,  Charleston,  and  Nashville,  and  the  debts  due  from 
preachers  residing  within  the  geographical  limits  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  South. 


218  MANUAL  OF 

A  strong  and  earnest  address  was  sent  to  the  people  on 
the  subject  of  missions.  Lay  representation  was  again  before 
otter  legisia-  the  General  Conference ;  bnt  as  there  was  no  indi- 
tlon*  cation  that  any  considerable  portion  of  the  Church 

desired  it,  any  change  at  that  time  was  considered  inexpedient. 
A  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  revise  the  rituals  of  the 
Church,  under  certain  restrictions  and  limitations.  During;  the 
ensuing  quadrenniurn  the  rituals  were  accordingly  revised  and 
published,  though  not  adopted  until  1864.  Several  new  Con- 
ferences were  formed,  making  forty -seven  in  all,  besides  the 
Liberia  and  German  Mission  Conferences. 

General  Conference  adjourned  June  3,  1856.  Never  had  a 
grander  or  more  cultured  body  assembled  in  Indianapolis.  A 
great  blessing  resulted  to  the  Churches.  Besides  the  delegates 
there  were  several  hundred  visitors  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. Methodist  laymen  were  taking  a  deep  interest  in  the  acts 
of  the  General  Conference,  and  the  power  of  the  Church  was 
being  felt  in  every  quarter. 

At  the  session  of  the  Liberia  Conference  in  January,  1858, 

.  „  Francis  Burns  was  selected  to  be  ordained  mission- 
Francis  Burns 

bishop  for  Af-  ary  bishop.  lie  came  to  the  United  States  for  his 
ordination,  which  occurred  at  the  sessiuii  of  the 
Genesee  Conference,  October  14,  1858,  Bishops  Janes  and 
Baker  performing  the  ceremony.  Bishop  Burns  was  a  native 
of  Albany,  ~N.  Y.,  and  was  of  pure  African  descent.  His 
parentage  was  poor.  "When  five  years  old  he  was  sent  to  live 
with  a  farmer,  who  sent  him  to  school  for  two  winters  and  occa- 
sionally in  the  summer  time.  He  was  converted  when  fifteen 
years  old.  He  was  early  impressed  with  the  idea  that  he 
must  preach,  but  could  not  follow  the  call  until  he  was 
twenty-one,  as  he  was  bound  to  his  master.  AVhen  Rev. 
John  Seys  went  to  Liberia  in  1S34  Mr.  Burns  accompanied 
him  as  a  "  missionary  teacher."  He  joined  the  Mission  Con- 
ference in  1838,  and  was  made  its  superintendent  in  1851. 
Immediately  upon  being  ordained  bishop  he  returned  to 
Liberia  and  entered  heartily  upon  his  work.  Death  over- 
took him  at  Baltimore,  April  18,  1863,  while  on  a  visit  to 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  219 


this  country  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Bishop  Burns  was 
a  strong  man,  a  Christian  gentleman,  and  left  his  impress  upon 
Liberia. 

Bishop  Waugh  was  a  Virginian,  having  had  his  birtli  in 
Fairfax  County,  Ya.,  October  25,  17*9.  His  death  Death  of  Bish- 
occurred  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  February  9,  1858.  °PWau*n- 
When  fifteen  years  of  age  he  became  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  and  entered  the  Baltimore  Conference 
in  1809.  He  was  elected  assistant  book  agent  in  1828,  with 
John  Emory.  Both  of  them  afterward  became  bishops.  He 
became  principal  agent  in  1832,  and  in  1836  was  elected  bishop. 
For  twenty-two  years  he  served  the  Church  faithfully  in  that 
high  office ;  for  six  years  as  senior  bishop.  He  was  a  man  of 
strong  constitution,  of  great  power  and  influence,  and  abundant 
in  labor. 

Rev.  J.  Y.  Watson,  editor  of  the  North-western  Christian 
Advocate,  died  October  17,  1856."  He  was  born  in  Death  of  Dr. 
England,  but  when  quite  young  was  brought  to  In-  Watson- 
diana.  He  was  a  man  of  unusual  force  of  character,  preaching 
with  great  acceptability.  As  a  writer  on  church  polity  he  was 
clear  and  liberal.  His  sun  set  in  the  glory  of  a  well-ordered 
life.  On  the  death  of  Dr.  Watson  Dr.  T.  M.  Eddy  was  elected 
editor  and  served  until  1868.  The  North-western  Christian 
Advocate  has  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  strong  papers  in 
Methodism,  and  has  wielded  a  large  influence  in  the  North- 
west. 

It  having  been  decided  to  open  a  Mission  in  India,  Dr. 
William  Butler  was  appointed  to  that  work  in  1856. 

.»  •     n  i         India  Mission. 

He  arrived  with  his  wile  at  Calcutta  m  September. 
After  careful  inspection  and  consultation  with  the  missionaries 
of  other  Churches  already  in  India  it  was  thought  best  that  our 
Church  should  occupy  as  its  special  field  the  territories  between 
the  Ganges  and  the  Himalayas.  Work  was  accordingly  begun 
at  Bareilly,  but  was  interrupted  by  the  Sepoy  rebellion  of  1857. 
That,  however,  having  been  suppressed,  the  work  was  renewed 
and  continued  to  spread  until  finally  organized  into  a  Mission 
Conference. 


220 


MANUAL  OF 


During  this  quadrennium  began  the  existence  of  the  ill- 
Troy  univer-  fated  Troy  University  at  Troy,  Y.  It  was  in- 
8ity*  tended  to  be  "  a  university  in  the  broadest  sense  of 

that  term."  A  building  u  incomparably  superior  to  any  other 
collegiate  edifice  belonging  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  "  was  erected  in  a  commanding  position,  where  it  was 
visible  for  many  miles.  Dr.  John  McClintock  was  chosen 
president  and  nominally  served  in  that  capacity  throughout 
the  whole  existence  of  the  institution,  but  without  a  residence 
there.  The  acting  president  was  Dr.  James  Strong.  A  faculty 
of  unusual  excellence  was  elected,  and  the  university  opened 
with  brilliant  prospects  of  success  September  9,  1858.  The 
financial  panic  of  1857  and  the  opening  of  the  civil  war  in 
1861,  however,  among  other  causes,  plunged  it  into  difficulties, 
and  it  was  sold  in  1863  to  private  parties  and  eventually  found 
its  way  into  the  hands  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  221 


CHAPTER  XXY. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  I860— EVENTS  FOLLOWING. 

The  thirteenth  delegated  and  nineteenth  General  Conference 
convened  at  St.  James's  Hall,  Buffalo,  K  Y.,  May  1,  1860. 
The  bishops,  Morris,  Janes,  Simpson,  Scott,  Baker,  and  Ames, 
were  present,  and  presided  in  turn.  William  L.  Harris  was 
made  secretary.  There  were  two  hundred  and  twenty-one 
delegates.  Several  of  these  had  been  members  of  the  memo- 
rable General  Conference  of  1844,  and  knew  the  trials  through 
which  the  Church  had  come.  Here  were  Alfred  Griffith, 
of  Baltimore  Conference;  John  T.  Mitchell,  of  Cincinnati; 
Henry  Slicer  and  T.  B.  Sargent,  of  East  Baltimore;  F.  G. 
Hibbard,  of  East  Genesee ;  Peter  Cartwright,  of  Illinois;  J.  M. 
Trimble,  of  "Ohio;  J.  P.  Durbin,  of  Philadelphia ;  and  George 
Peck,  of  Wyoming.  These  men  had  not  only  beheld  the 
battle  from  afar,  but  had  taken  part  in  it ;  and  now,  when  there 
were  ominous  mutterings  in  the  air,  of  political  secession  and 
civil  war,  they  were  not  dismayed,  but  were  ready  at  all  hazards 
to  obey  the  dictates  of  their  consciences. 

The  address  of  the  bishops  was,  as  always,  a  valuable  docu- 
ment, calmly  and  dispassionately  reviewing  the  his-  Bishops'  ad- 
tory  of  the  past  quadrennium,  and  pointing  out  such  dress" 
changes  and  improvements  as  it  might  be  advisable  to  make. 
They  expressed  their  belief  that  the  Church,  though  now  com- 
posed of  forty-seven  Annual  Conferences,  was  still  E  Pluribus 
Unum.  They  referred  in  tender  terms  to  the  death  of  Bishop 
Waugh  and  of  twelve  members  of  the  General  Conference  of 
1856,  who  "  were  all  good  men  and  good  ministers  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ."  They  spoke  of  the  visit  of  Bishop  Simpson  and 
Dr.  McClintock  to  the  British  and  Irish  Conferences,  and  of 
Bishop  Simpson  to  the  French  Conference,  and  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  missionary  bishop  for  Africa.    They  presented  the 


222 


MANUAL  OF 


work  of  education,  with  a  recommendation  that  a  general  edu- 
cational board  be  established  ;  of  the  Sunday-school  depart- 
ment, under  whose  supervision  there  were  732,592  scholars  in 
the  Sunday-schools ;  of  the  publishing  interests,  which  repre- 
sented a  capital  of  §762,933;  of  the  Tract  Society,  and  the 
need  of  the  publication  of  tracts  in  foreign  languages;  and  of 
missions,  both  home  and  foreign,  laying  particular  emphasis 
upon  the  fact  that  "the  great  hinderance  in  civilizing  and  sav- 
ing the  aborigines  of  the  country  arises  from  the  destructive 
influence  of  vicious  white  men."  They  regretted  the  existence, 
especially  in  some  large  cities,  of  a  system  by  which  churches 
and  ministers  sometimes  negotiated  their  own  appointments 
without  any  consultation  with  the  appointing  authorities  and 
without  due  regard  to  the  state  of  their  own  Conferences  or 
to  what  might  be  the  disadvantages  to  other  Conferences  or 
churches  or  ministers,  declaring  this  course  to  be  un-Methodistic 
and  fraught  with  unhappy  consequences.  They  discussed  the 
question  of  lay  delegation,  calling  it  a  matter  of  expediency. 
They  thought  that  there  existed  "great  if  not  insuperable  diffi- 
culties in  the  way  of  introducing  lay  delegates  into  the  Annual 
Conferences  as  co-ordinate  members  of  those  bodies,"  but  were 
of  opinion  that  lay  delegation  might  be  introduced  with  safety, 
and  perhaps  advantage,  into  the  General  Conference  in  the 
form  of  "  a  separate  house,  the  General  Conference  being  com- 
posed of  a  house  of  clerical  and  a  house  of  lay  delegates,  delib- 
erating together,  but  voting  as  separate  houses,  and  no  action 
being  valid  without  a  majority  of  each,  separately  obtained." 
Finally,  they  laid  before  the  Conference  the  vexed  question  of 
extending  the  pastoral  term,  deprecating  a  change,  while  frankly 
confessing  that  they  did  "  not  regard  this  as  a  matter  of  vital 
importance  either  way." 

Eev.  Robinson  Scott,  D.D.,  was  received  as  a  delegate  from 
visiting  dele-  the  Irish  Conference  ;  Rev.  Thomas  Webster  and 
gates.  James  Gardner  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

in  Canada.  In  place  of  delegates  the  British  Conference  sent 
an  address ;  and  an  address  was  also  received  from  the  French 
Conference. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


223 


Among  the  proceedings  of  this  General  Conference  we  may 
mention  :  1.  John  P.  Durbin  was  elected  secretary 
of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  William  L.  Harris 
assistant ;  Edward  Thomson,  editor  of  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal;  D.  D.  Whedon,  editor  of  Quarterly  Review;  Daniel 
Wise,  editor  of  Sunday-school  books  and  papers  ;  Calvin  Kings- 
lev,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advocate  ;  D.  W.  Clark,  editor 
of  Ladled  Repository  ;  William  Nast,  editor  of  the  Christian 
Apologist  ;  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  editor  of  the  JVorth-w ester n 
Christian  Advocate;  Charles  Elliott,  editor  of  Central  Chris- 
tian Advocate  ;  Isaac  S.  Bingham,  editor  of  Northern  Christian 
Advocate;  Samuel  H.  Nesbit,  editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate;  Eleazer  Thomas,  editor  of  California  Christian 
Advocate  ;  and  Thomas  IT.  Pearne,  editor  of  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate;  Thomas  Carlton  and  James  Porter,  book  agents  at 
]Srjw  York ;  and  Adam  Poe  and  Lnke  Hitchcock,  book  agents 
at  Cincinnati. 

2.  At  this  period  political  excitement  inflamed  the  public 
mind,  and  in  it  the  Church  was  necessarily  involved.  The  siavery 
The  slavery  question  became  again  one  of  unusual  question, 
magnitude.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  began,  after 
1S4S,  to  push  its  way  into  the  border  slave  States,  and  soon 
Conferences  were  therein  formed.  These  border  Conferences 
had  more  or  less  contention  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  Some 
individuals  left  the  Church,  and  either  united  with  the  Church, 
South,  or  deserted  Methodism  altogether.  That  the  question 
greatly  agitated  the  Church  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  from 
every  section — east,  west,  north,  and  south  —  petitions  and 
memorials  were  received,  some  asking  that  the  rule  on  slav- 
ery remain  unchanged,  while  the  majority  petitioned  for  a 
change.  There  had  been  sent  to  the  Annual  Conferences  for 
their  indorsement  or  rejection  three  plans  or  propositions  for 
a  change,  known  as  the  Cincinnati,  Providence,  and  Erie  prop- 
ositions, because  they  originated  in  those  Conferences.  There 
were  also  received,  opposed  to  a  change,  137  direct  memorials 
to  the  General  Conference,  signed  by  3,999  persons,  and  peti- 
tions from  forty-seven  Quarterly  Conferences ;  in  favor  of  a 


224 


MANUAL  OF 


change,  811  memorials,  signed  by  45,857  persons,  and  petitions 
from  forty-nine  Quarterly  Conferences.  The  matter  was  care- 
fully considered  by  a  strong  committee,  of  which  Calvin  Kings- 
ley,  afterward  bishop,  was  chairman,  and  two  reports,  a  majority 
and  a  minority  report,  were  presented  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence. The  change  of  rule  had  not  been  sanctioned  by  the 
requisite  number  of  Annual  Conferences;  but  by  a  vote  of  155 
to  58  the  General  Conference  amended  the  chapter  on  slavery 
in  the  Discipline  to  read  as  follows : 

w  Question. — Whatshallbe  done  for  the  extirpation  of  the  evil 
of  slavery?  Answer. — We  declare  that  we  are  as  much  as  ever 
convinced  of  the  great  evil  of  slavery.  "We  believe  that  the 
buying,  selling,  or  holding  of  human  beings,  to  be  used  as  chat- 
tels, is  contrary  to  the  laws  of  God  and  nature,  inconsistent 
with  the  Golden  Rule  and  with  that  rule  in  our  Discipline 
which  requires  all  who  desire  to  continue  among  us  to  'do  no 
harm,  and  to  avoid  evil  of  every  kind.'  "We,  therefore,  affec- 
tionately admonish  all  our  preachers  and  people  to  keep  them- 
selves pure  from  this  great  evil,  and  to  seek  its  extirpation  by 
all  lawful  and  Christian  means." 

3.  Xew  Conferences  were  formed,  making  a  total  of  forty- 

nine,  besides  the  Liberia  and  German  Mission  Con- 

Conferences.  7  ,  ,  - 

ferences,  and  provision  was  made  for  forming  a 
Rocky  Mountain  Conference  at  such  time  as  the  bishops  might 
decide  to  be  advisable.  Within  slave  States  were  located  the 
Baltimore,  East  Baltimore,  Western  Virginia,  Missouri  and 
Arkansas,  Kentucky,  and  a  part  of  the  Philadelphia  Confer- 
ences. The  preachers  and  members  within  these  bounds  had 
many  difficulties  to  contend  with  and  hardships  to  endure. 
There  were  perils  by  day  and  night  from  the  slave-holding 
oligarchy.  The  political  conflict  on  the  slavery  question  neces- 
sarily affected  the  Church  and  its  friends. 

4.  The  temperance  question  was  fully  considered,  and  the  com- 

mittee reported  that  in  their  opinion  "  the  General 

Temperance.  _  . 

Conference  should  at  this  particular  juncture  in  the 
history  of  the  Church  and  the  country  speak  upon  this  subject 
in  a  way  not  to  be  misunderstood."    They  regarded  it  the  duty 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


225 


of  ministers  to  preach  expressly  on  the  subject,  and  of  both 
ministers  and  members  to  co-operate  to  secure  laws  prohibiting 
the  traffic  in  intoxicating  drinks.  They  recommended  that  un- 
adulterated domestic  wines  be  used  for  the  sacrament,  and  con- 
demned the  use  of  wine  or  ale  in  the  family  ;  and  they  declared 
the  renting  of  buildings  for  the  sale  of  intoxicants,  and  the 
selling  of  grain  where  it  is  known  to  be  used  for  the  manufact- 
ure of  intoxicating  liquors,  to  be  "  contrary  to  sound  Christian 
morals,  and  violating  that  rule  which  enjoins  on  us  '  to  do  no 
harm,  and  avoid  evil  of  every  kind.' " 

5.  The  growth  of  the  Book  Concerns,  both  at  New  York  and 
Cincinnati,  for  the  four  years  had  been  remarkable. 

^  Book  Concern; 

At  New  York  the  sales  reached  $1,175,867.29,  being 
$175,133.11  over  those  of  the  preceding  qnadrennium.  At  the 
Western  Concern  the  sales  had  been  $877,214.68,  or  at  the  two 
Concerns  $2,053,081.97.  The  circulation  of  periodicals  and 
books  bearing  the  Methodist  imprint  is  only  comprehended 
when  it  is  remembered  that  behind  the  Concern  is  one  of  the 
most  efficient  agencies — the  Methodist  ministers — the  world 
has  ever  known.  Mr.  Wesley  early  saw  the  value  of  a  sanctified 
literature  to  the  Church.  This  conviction  he  left  to  Method- 
ism at  large,  and  she  has  made  herself  famous,  not  only  as  an 
evangelical  and  spiritual  Church,  but  as  a  reading  people. 

6.  The  Mission  Board  had  given  close  attention  to  the  foreign 
mission  work  in  Germany,  in  every  way  seeking  to  Mls. 
give  success  and  strength  to  the  work.    They  re-  sion  Biblical 

»        ,.  ; \     ,  M  %.       .      .         .      t       «  Institute. 

ported  the  founding  oi  a  biblical  institute  in  the  city 
of  Bremen,  "  for  the  better  preparing  of  young  men  for  the 
work  in  Germany,"  which  was  approved  and  adopted  by  this 
General  Conference.  This  institute  grew  out  of  a  great  neces- 
sity. Three  young  Germans  in  Bremen  desired  to  enter  the 
Methodist  ministry,  but  could  not.  obtain  the  preparation  they 
desired.  The  Methodist  church  in  Bremen  in  1858  deter- 
mined to  open  such  a  school  on  condition  that  the  Mission 
Board  should  sanction  it.  A  school  of  three  students  was 
opened.    The  German  missions  responded  well  to  its  support. 

The  Missionary  Board  at  New  York  gave  their  sanction.   Dr.  L. 
16  J  6 


226 


MANUAL  OF 


S.  Jacoby  became  director  and  Rev.  "William  Schwartz  pro- 
fessor of  theology.  Seven  students  were  enrolled  in  1859, 
and  a  building  was  dedicated  in  1860.  In  1861  Dr.  W.  F. 
Warren,  of  the  New  England  Conference,  became  professor  of 
theology  in  the  institute.  The  school  was  eminently  success- 
ful, and  larger  quarters  being  required,  Mr.  J.  T.  Martin,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  gave  §25,000  for  a  building..  It  was  erected 
in  Frankfort-on-the-Main  in  1867,  the  school  transferred  from 
Bremen,  and  the  name  changed  to  "Martin  Mission  Institute." 
Dr.  (now  bishop)  Hurst  became  professor  of  theology  in  1S66. 
The  institute  is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  has  accomplished 
untold  good,  and  has  been  the  place  where  "  most  of  the 
preachers  of  the  Germany  and  Switzerland  Conference  have 
received  instruction."  The  institute  has  made  in  the  past 
twenty-five  years  a  marked  impression  upon  the  German  theol- 
ogy.   It  is  a  leaven,  and  is  leavening  the  whole  lump. 

7.  The  New  York  book  agents  were  instructed  to  publish 
Sunday-school  monthly  a  paper  for  Sunday-school  teachers.  This 
journal.  was  commenced  in  1861,  with  John  II.  Yincent, 
now  bishop,  as  editor.  It  was  first  published  as  an  eight-page 
quarto,  but  now  contains  fifty-six  large  octavo  pages.  It  has 
a  large  circulation,  not  confined  to  the  Methodist  denomina- 
tion. 

8.  Methodism  was  planted  in  America  about  1766.  A  cent- 
centenary  of  ur7  nac^  now  nearlY  passed.  The  matter  of  properly 
American  observing  the  centennial  anniversary  was  considered, 

and  recommendation  made  to  the  Annual  Confer- 
ences and  membership  to  appropriately  celebrate  the  occasion. 
All  ecclesiastical  bodies  included  in  the  Methodist  family  in  the 
United  States  and  British  possessions  in  North  America  were 
invited  to  unite  in  such  celebration.  A  committee  of  corre- 
spondence was  appointed  to  make  preliminary  arrangements  for 
the  event  by  correspondence  with  other  Methodist  bodies. 
As  there  would  be  another  General  Conference  before  the  oc- 
casion of  the  celebration,  the  details  were  laid  over  to  await  the 
action  of  that  body. 

9.  For  several  years  the  subject  of  lay  representation  in  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  IILSTOItY. 


227 


Annual  and  General  Conferences  had  been  agitated,  From 
1828,  when  the  Methodist  Protestant  secession  oc-  LayrePresen- 
curred,  there  had  existed  an  element  which  favored  it.  tation- 
Every  advantage  had  been  presented  and  urged  in  its  strongest 
light.  Many  memorials  and  petitions  praying  for  its  adoption 
were  sent  to  this  General  Conference,  which  were  carefully 
considered.  Majority  and  minority  reports  were  presented. 
The  majority  report  proposed  a  plan  for  lay  delegation  in  the 
General  Conference,  which  was  to  be  submitted  to  the  several 
Annual  and  Quarterly  Conferences.  If  sanctioned  by  these  bodies 
it  was  then  to  become  a  law  "upon  the  concurrent  action  of  a 
majority  of  the  next  General  Conference."  The  plan  proposed 
was  very  nearly  that  which  was  adopted  in  1872,  and  is  still  in 
operation,  but  differed  from  it  in  providing  for  an  equal  repre- 
sentation of  lay  and  clerical  delegates.  The  minority  report 
was  opposed  to  any  attempt  to  introduce  lay  delegation,  "  in 
view  of  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  laity  with  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Church,"  and  of  the  small  desire  of  the  Annual 
and  Quarterly  Conferences  for  its  introduction.  These  reports 
were  referred  to  a  committee  of  three,  who  substituted  a  report 
which  was  adopted.  It  affirmed  a  readiness  to  introduce  lay 
delegates  into  the  General  Conference  when  satisfied  that  the 
Church  desired  it.  A  method  was  provided  for  ascertaining 
the  desire  of  the  Church,  through  a  vote  of  the  male  members 
of  the  Church,  over  twenty-one  years-of  age,  in  full  connection. 
Due  notice  of  this  election  was  to  be  given  on  two  successive 
Sundays.  It  was  to  occur  between  the  Annual  Conferences  of 
1861  and  1862,  and  to  be  by  ballot.  The  Annual  Conferences 
of  1862  were  also  to  vote  on  the  subject.  The  results  of  these 
votes  were  to  be  laid  before  the  General  Conference  in  1861. 

10.  The  desirability  of  a  board  of  education,  to  have  a  general 
oversight  of  all  the  educational  work  of  the  Church, 

°  ,  ,  Education. 

was  stated  by  the  Committee  on  Education.  Com- 
petent persons  were  appointed  to  mature  and  present  to  the 
next  General  Conference  a  plan  for  the  organization  of  such  a 
board.  The  undue  "  multiplication  of  literary  institutions  "  of  a 
high  grade  without  suitable  endowments,  by  which  existing  and 


228 


MANUAL  OF 


established  institutions  had  been  seriously  crippled ;  the  want 
of  some  established  and  responsible  means  of  communication 
between  teachers  desiring  employment  and  those  needing  their 
services,  and  the  "neglect  of  young  men  of  piety  and  promis- 
ing talents  who  are  without  the  necessary  means  for  securing  a 
thorough  intellectual  training,"  were  among  the  reasons  which 
demanded  this  new  movement  in  Methodism. 

11.  In  Western  New  York,  about  1855,  there  arose  "  an- 
»Nazarite"  pleasant  contests"  in  several  churches  "in  reference 
movement.  ^0  organization  of  societies  in  the  Church,  which 
professed  to  desire  its  purification,  but  which  were  conducted 
in  opposition  to  its  Discipline  and  its  economy.  The  members 
of  these  associations  were  usually  distinguished  by  the  term 
1  Xazarites.'  Several  ministers  had  been  tried  for  matters 
growing  out  of  these  associations,  some  of  them  for  insubordi- 
Members tried  nation  and  others  for  falsehood,  had  been  expelled  by 
and  expelled.  f-iie  Genesee  Conference,  and  had  given  notice  of 
their  appeal  to  the  General  Conference."  It  was  in  the  year 
1857  that  Rev.  B.  T.  Roberts  was  tried  in  the  Genesee  Con- 
ference for  u  immoral  and  unchristian  conduct,"  and,  being 
found  guilty,  the  Conference  sentenced  him  to  be  rebuked  by 
the  bishop.  The  next  year,  having  repeated  his  offense,  he 
was  charged  with  contumacy  and  expelled.  Also  a  like  charge 
was  brought  against  Rev.  Joseph  McCreerv,  and,  being  found 
guilty,  he  also  was  expelled  from  the  ministry  and  the  Church. 
u  Notwithstanding  their  expulsion  they  had  continued  to  preach 
and  to  organize  societies  in  defiance  of  church  order."  This 
conduct  greatly  disturbed  many  circuits  and  stations. 

Their  appeal  was  presented  to  the  General  Conference,  and 
«  ,u  ^  strongly  advocated  by  eloquent  ministers,  but  thev 

Free  Method-  c  «<  •* 

1st  church  or-  had  so  flagrantly  violated  the  church  law  after  their 
trial  and  appeal  that  it  was  not  entertained.  August 
23, 1S60,  at  a  convention  held  at  Pekin,  Niagara  County,  X.  Y., 
the  Free  Methodist  Church  was  organized.  Their  convention 
was  "  composed  of  laymen  and  ministers  who  were  then, 
or  had  been,  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church." 
The  Free  Methodists  discarded  the  episcopacy  and  substituted 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


2%) 


a  general  superintendent  elected  for  four  years.  They  have 
General,  Annual,  District,  and  Quarterly  Conferences.  The 
lay  representation  is  equal  to  that  of  the  ministry.  Class- 
meetings  are  retained,  and  attendance  is  made  a  test  of  member- 
ship. Instead  of  the  presiding  elder  there  is  a  "  district  chair- 
man." The  Articles  of  Religion  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  are  retained,  with  two  additions,  the  first  on  entire 
sanctitication,  the  second  on  future  rewards  and  punishments. 
Members  of  the  Free  Methodist  Church  are  required  to  lay 
aside  all  superfluous  ornamentation  in  dress,  not  to  unite  with 
any  secret  society,  and  not  to  use  intoxicating  liquors  or  to- 
bacco, except  as  medicine. 

In  a  short  time  after  the  adjournment  of  the  General  Con- 
ference there  was  started  in  JSTew  York  a  weekly  »The  Meth- 
paper,  called  The  Methodist,  in  the  interests  and  for  odist-" 
the  advocacy  of  lay  representation.  It  was  ably  edited  from  the 
start,  and  filled  a  niche  unoccupied  in  the  field  of  independent 
religious  journalism.  It  ably  advocated  the  cause  in  every  pos- 
sible manner.  JSTo  one  can  tell  what  it  might  have  accomplished 
had  not  the  rebellion  broken  out  and  turned  the  public 
attention  to  the  salvation  of  the  country.  "  National  questions, 
for  a  time,  took  precedence  of  all  others."  When  the  vote 
ordered  by  the  General  Conference  upon  the  question  of  lay 
delegation  was  taken  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  members 
of  the  Church  participated,  28,884  voting  for  the  change,  and 
47,855  against  it,  while  the  ministers  were  even  more  largely 
against  it.  In  1882  The  Methodist  was  purchased  by  the  New 
York  Book  Concern  and  merged  in  The  Christian  Advocate. 

Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated  for  President  of  the  United 
States  in  May,  1860,  by  the  Republican  party.  Mr. 

\  i.i  ~\~r      i  Clouds  of  war. 

Douglas  was  the  candidate  of  the  Northern  Democ- 
racy, and  Mr.  Breckinridge  of  the  Southern.  The  ever  trouble- 
some question  of  slavery  was  the  central  thought  in  these 
parties.  The  action  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
taking  an  advanced  position  on  the  question  necessarily  drew 
her  into  the  conflict.  The  extremists  of  the  South  went  to  great 
lengths  in  their  antagonisms  and  in  persecution  of  the  mem- 


230 


MANUAL  OF 


bers,  and  especially  the  preachers,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  On  September  13,  1860,  Rev.  Anthony  Bewley,  a 
member  of  the  late  General  Conference,  was  hung  at  Fort 
Worth,  Tex.,  by  a  mob,  for  no  other  reason  than  that  he  was  a 
preacher  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.    On  March  13, 

1859,  while  Bishop  Janes  was  holding  religious  services  at  the 
Arkansas  Conference,  and  just  as  he  was  announcing  his  text, 
on  Sabbath  morning,  Judge  Roberts,  with  a  crowd,  entered  the 
church  and  ordered  the  bishop  to  leave  within  two  hours,  an- 
nouncing that  if  the  Church  did  not  cease  to  operate  in  Texas 
"  blood  would  be  shed,  and  the  responsibility  would  be  on  the 
bishop  and  Conference."  The  clouds  gathered  blacker  and 
thicker.    Mr.  Lincoln  was  elected  President  in  November, 

1860,  and  on  the  4th  of  March,  1861,  was  inaugurated.  Treason 
was  every-where.  Friends  became  suspicious  of  each  other. 
Who  was  loyal?  Sumter  was  fired  upon  and  fell.  South 
Carolina  seceded  from  the  Union.  One  after  another  of  the 
slave  States  of  the  South  followed.  These  elements  gravitated 
toward  a  common  center,  and  the  Southern  Confederacy  was 
formed.  Thus  had  been  done  for  the  Union  what  had  been 
done  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  1844  and  1845. 
There  was  a  secession  in  each  case.  In  1845  the  Church  had 
only  moral  and  spiritual  weapons  with  which  to  resist  its 
enemies ;  but  in  1861  the  government  had  arms,  patriotism, 
and  moral  power  to  crush  rebellion  and  root  out  slavery. 

The  times  were  dangerous ;  but,  "  inspired  by  patriotism,  de- 
soidierstotbe  yoted  to  the  government  of  their  country,  and  op- 
front,  posed  to  slavery,  which  had  already  rent  and  torn 
their  Church,  it  is  not  surprising  that  a  very  large  number  of 
the  young  men  of  the  Methodist  congregations,  as  well  as  of 
all  the  other  Churches  and  of  the  community  generally,  volun- 
teered for  the  army.  Through  these  dreadful  years  of  bloody 
contests  large  numbers  of  the  members  and  friends  of  the  Church 
fell  while  supporting  the  banner  of  their  country."  *  Said  M.  F. 
Odell,  member  of  Congress  from  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.,  u  that  among 
the  most  patriotic  in  the  land  were  the  members  of  the  Meth- 
*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  p.  176. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  231 


odist  Episcopal  Church."  He  had  been  informed  by  the  Presi- 
dent that  no  Church  had  given  its  ministers  and  men  more 
freely  than  the  Methodist  Church  all  over  the  land."* 
Colonel  J.  II.  Perry,  of  New  York  East  Conference,  fell  at  his 
post  at  Fort  Pulaski,  Ga.  Colonel  Granville  Moody,  of  Cin- 
cinnati Conference,  whose  stirring  words  at  Murfreesborough 
have  become  historic,  did  good  service.  Colonel  M.  McCarter, 
of  the  Philadelphia  Conference,  Chaplain  J.  II.  Lozier,  of 
South-eastern  Indiana  Conference,  Chaplain  A.  EddjT,  of  North 
Indiana  Conference,  and  a  half  thousand  more,  with  two  hun- 
dred thousand  laymen  and  ministers  in  the  rank  and  tile,  might 
be  mentioned.  They  were  an  honor  to  the  Church  and  country. 
They  were  pious  and  patriotic.  They  were  unflinching  in  time 
of  greatest  peril.  Their  memory  is  fragrant,  and  their  example 
is  inspiring. 

"This  era  wTas  remarkable  for  one  of  the  most  wonderful 
facts  of  history."     It  was  one  in  which   all  the 

-I  -ii  __  _.  .  Emancipation. 

Churches,  and  especially  the  Methodist  Episcopal, 
as  well  as  the  country,  were  deeply  interested.  "  The  Procla- 
mation of  Emancipation  was  issued  by  President  Lincoln 
in  September,  1862,  conditioned  on  the  continuance  of  the  re- 
bellion ;  and  on  the  1st  of  January,  1863,  that  proclamation 
was  made  final.  Thus  the  manacles  were  struck  from  nearly 
four  millions  of  human  beings,  and  from  that  time  forth  they 
were  to  some  extent  employed  in  the  army.  It  was  the  gen- 
eral conviction  that  God  had  permitted  this  great  struggle  to 
occur  to  end  the  system  of  slavery.  Statesmen  had  anxiously 
sought,  but  were  unable  to  find,  a  proper  mode  of  relief.  Instead 
of  gradual  emancipation  advancing,  as  had  been  hoped,  slavery 
had  assumed  a  more  aggressive  attitude,  and  had  shown  a  bolder 
determination  to  extend  its  area,  So  far  as  human  vision  can 
perceive,  in  no  other  way  could  this  evil  have  been  so  speedily 
and  so  successfully  terminated.  It  was  permitted  to  become 
the  agent  of  its  own  destruction.  The  rebellion  was  com- 
menced by  the  South.  A  leading  orator  had  boasted  that  he 
would  call  the  roll  of  his  slaves  on  Bunker  Hill.    The  South 

*  Methodist  Quarterly  Eeview,  1863,  p.  436. 


2o2 


MANUAL  OF 


fired  the  first  gun,  made  the  first  attacks,  and  precipitated  the 
nation  into  the  fearful  struggle  which  resulted,  under  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  in  the  abolition  of  slavery,  and  in  the  strengthen- 
ing and  consolidation  of  the  general  Union.  In  this  issue  the 
Church  most  heartily  rejoiced."  * 

The  period  of  the  rebellion  was  not  favorable  to  the  work  of 

the  development  and  planting  of  educational  enter- 
Education.  r 

prises,  but  nevertheless  some  good  work  was  wrought 
during  these  dark  days.  At  Jackson,  Mich.,  as  early  as 
1835,  the  Spring  Arbor  Seminary  had  been  established,  but  in 
1839  it  was  removed  to  Albion,  and  the  name  changed  to 
Wesleyan  Seminary.  In  1850  it  was  again  changed  to  Albion 
Female  Collegiate  Institute  and  Wesleyan  Seminary.  In  1S61 
the  institution  took  its  present  name,  Albion  College.  It  has 
grown  to  be  a  power  in  Methodist  education  in  Michigan. 

For  some  years  there  had  been  at  the  Baldwin  University, 
Berea,  O.,  a  German  department  designed  especially  for  the 
education  of  German  candidates  for  the  ministry.  This  depart- 
ment prospered,  and  in  1864  German  Wallace  College  was  or- 
ganized under  the  charter  of  Baldwin  University.  Within  its 
sphere  it  has  exerted  a  wide  influence. 

During  the  war  many  German  children  were  left  orphans. 
German  or-  The  German  Methodists  cared  for  them.  At  War- 
phanasyiums.  rent0Ilj  m0#j  an  asylum  was  opened  in  1864.  This 
was  soon  filled  with  about  one  hundred  German  children 
whose  fathers  had  fallen  in  the  defense  of  the  Union  cause. 
The  German  Orphan  Asylum  at  Berea,  O.,  was  established 
about  the  same  time.  It  has  a  fine  property,  owned  by 
the  Central  German,  Chicago,  and  East  German  Conferences, 
and  located  near  the  German  Wallace  College.  It  has  accom- 
plished an  untold  amount  of  good,  and  has  reared  many 
orphans  in  a  groat  Christian  family,  educated  them,  and  sent 
them  out  to  the  world  to  be  useful  Christian  citizens. 

Union  Chapel  was  organized  in  Cincinnati,  O.,  in  1S1:9.  The 
property  was  deeded  to  trustees  in  trust  for  the  society,  and 
not  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.    This  fact  did  not 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Yearn  of  Methodism,  pp.  177,  178. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  233 


appear  at  the  time.  There  seems  to  have  been  an  avowed 
purpose  to  change  some  of  the  customs  of  Meth-  UnlonCnape, 
odism.  It  was  supposed  to  be  a  Methodist  Epis-  Cincinnati, 
copal  Church.  In  1859  Rev.  George  C.  Robinson  was 
appointed  pastor,  and  served  for  some  time  acceptably.  Health 
failed,  and  Rev.  W.  A.  Snively,  a  supernumerary  of  the 
East  Baltimore  Conference,  finished  out  the  year.  Bishop 
Morris  was  besought  to  transfer  Mr.  Snively  to  the  Cincinnati 
Conference,  and  appoint  him  to  Union  Chapel.  This  the 
bishop  declined  to  do.  The  official  board  had  declined  to  aid  in 
the  support  of  the  presiding  elder,  "on  the  ground  that  the 
services  of  that  officer  were  not  required."  Rev.  G.  C.  Crum, 
D.D.,  was  appointed  pastor.  The  church  refused  to  receive 
him.  Bishop  Morris  then  ordered  the  church  to  be  left  off 
the  list  of  appointments  in  the  Cincinnati  Conference.  The  offi- 
cial board  appealed  to  the  General  Conference  of  1864.  The  case 
was  brought  before  that  body,  and  it  indorsed  the  action  of  Bishop 
Morris  as  being  in  perfect  accord  with  the  law  of  the  Church. 

One  thing  in  Methodist  history  during  this  period  is  gratify- 
ing to  loyal  Methodists — the  great  influence  of  our  _  _ 

,&  J  ,        .   .  Y  .  Influence  of 

bishops  abroad  in  giving  a  right  understanding  of  the  bishops  in 
the  causes  of  the  great  rebellion  and  the  success  of  Europe* 
the  government  in  maintaining  the  Union.  Bishops  Janes  and 
Simpson  during  this  time  visited  England  and  the  Continent. 
Both  of  these  strong  men,  by  addresses  and  sermons,  publicly 
presented  the  cause  of  the  United  States.  They  stated  clearly 
the  situation  of  affairs,  the  resources  of  the  nation,  the  resolute 
determination  of  Union  men,  the  steadiness  and  valor  of  the 
army.  In  private  they  constantly  demonstrated  the  necessity 
for  upholding  the  Union  in  the  interests  of  public  morality,  the 
Church,  and  humanity  in  general.  They  won  friends  for  the 
Union  wherever  they  went.  Their  earnest  eloquence  charmed 
listening  thousands  into  real  sympathy. 

The  subject  of  lay  delegation  gathered  force.  .  On  the  18th 
of  May,  1864,  a  convention  of  representative  laymen   Lay  deleRa_ 
assembled  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.    The  subject  was  tion- 
very  fully  discussed  in  a  calm  and  brotherly  manner.  On 


MANUAL  OF 


May  19  a  committee  from  this  convention  was  received  by 
the  General  Conference,  and  Dr.  James  Strong,  secretary 
of  the  laymen's  convention,  presented  an  admirable  address, 
which  was  received  and  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Lay 
Delegation.*  The  Methodist  was  constantly  publishing  strong 
articles,  presenting  in  the  best  light  every  aspect  of  the  sub- 
ject, and  the  desirableness  and  need  of  laymen  in  the  councils 
of  the  Church,  and  also  admitted  articles  advocating  the  oppo- 
site view.  Conventions  were  held  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  and,  as  the  great  disturbance  of  war  was  being  some- 
what allayed,  this  cause  gained  ground.  It  took  much  argument 
to  root  out  the  sad  influence  of  the  secession  of  182S  and  the 
unfortunate  discussions  that  had  grown  out  of  that  movement 
for  lay  representation.  The  friends  of  the  movement  were 
now  proceeding  on  a  more  sensible  and  commendable  ba-is 
than  in  former  years. 

At  the  close  of  this  quadrenninm  the  Church  had  928,320 
members,  showing  a  decrease  of  66,127,  which  could 

Statistics.  7  ° 

easily  be  accounted  for  by  the  prevalence  of  the 
civil  war.  There  were  6,821  traveling  preachers — a  decrease 
of  166.  Of  local  preachers  there  were  8,205 — -an  increase  of  17. 
One  cannot  remember  the  fearful  condition  of  the  country  dur- 
ing these  three  years,  and  see  how  well  the  Church  maintained 
herself,  without  praising  God  for  the  Church  and  for  Chris- 
tianity. 

*  See  Appendix  to  General  Conference  proceedings  of  1 864,  pp.  409-411. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


235 


CHAPTER.  XXVI. 

THE     GENERAL    CONFERENCE    OP    1864— THE   EVENTS   OF  THE 
QUADRENNIUM,  1864-68. 

On  Monday  morning,  May  2,  1864,  the  fourteenth  delegated 
and  twentieth  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  assembled  in  Union  Church,  Philadelphia.  The 
bishops,  Morris,  Janes,  Scott,  Simpson,  Baker,  and  Ames, 
were  present.  William  L.  Harris  was  elected  secretary.  The 
Conference  sat  amid  the  closing  months  of  the  great  rebellion, 
though  at  the  time  it  looked  as  if  the  civil  wTar  might  continue 
for  two  or  three  more  years.  The  awful  gloom  that  had  been 
over  the  land  from  1861  had  in  part  lifted,  for  men  saw 
that  the  Union  was  sure  ultimately  to  triumph.  Within  the 
nation  were  forces  capable  of  self-preservation.  Those  who 
had  fought  the  great  sin  of  slavery,  and  had  expected  to  die 
before  the  day  of  its  abolishment  should  come,  had  been  glad- 
dened by  the  full  emancipation  of  the  thousands  who  had  so 
long  wailed  in  bondage.  The  changed  relations  of  the  slave 
and  master  had  placed  upon  the  Church  new  responsibilities. 
Territory  that  had  been  necessarily  closed  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  now  thrown  open,  and  into  this  the 
Church  must  go.  There  was  a  consciousness  of  responsibilities 
and  duties  toward  those  whose  life  had  been  that  of  bondage, 
and  the  Church  took  them  up  with  a  will,  planned  admirably, 
set  forces  at  work  to  accomplish  its  purposes,  and  trusted  God 
to  give  success. 

The  bishops  referred  in  their  address  to  the  sad  state  of  the 
country  during  the  quadrennium,  but  rejoiced  in  Bishops' ad- 
the  loyalty  of  preachers  and  people.  All  the  Con-  dress- 
ferences  had  met  at  the  time  and  place  designated,  except  two 
— the  Missouri  and  Kentucky.  While  on  the  extreme  war 
border  there  had  been  some  derangement  of  the  districts  and 


236 


MANUAL  OF 


circuits  there  had  generally  been  a  most  cheering  and  wonder- 
ful progress.  In  some  parts  of  the  Church  there  had  been  a 
falling  off  of  membership,  but  all  this  was  accounted  for  by 
the  war.  The  value  of  church  property  had  somewhat  in- 
creased, so  that  it  amounted  to  $20,830,554.  The  missionary 
interests  of  the  Church  were  never  in  so  prosperous  a  condi- 
tion. "While  the  country  was  in  a  state  of  civil  war  not  a 
mission  field  had  been  abandoned  or  a  missionary  called  home. 
Bishop  Burns,  the  missionary  bishop  for  Africa,  had  died  in 
Baltimore,  April  18,  1863,  wThich  left  an  important  field  to  be 
supplied.  The  Book  Concern  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  re- 
bellion appeared  to  be  in  great  danger,  but  God  had  blessed 
the  efforts  made  in  its  behalf.  Some  old  fields  had  ceased  to 
be  productive,  but  other  fields  were  opened,  and  the  publishing 
interests  were  never  in  a  more  prosperous  condition.  The 
Book  Concern  was  able  in  1863  to  declare  a  dividend  to  each 
Annual  Conference  of  $100.  They  spoke  encouragingly  of 
the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  and  the  noble  work  it  was  doing. 
While  they  lamented  the  death  cf  John  Dempster,  the  pioneer 
of  Methodist  theological  education,  they  were  satisfied  that  this 
work  would  go  on  to  the  glory  of  God.  The  bishops  recom- 
mended that  advanced  steps  should  be  taken  for  the  increased 
efficiency  of  the  Church  among  the  colored  people.  The  cen- 
tennial of  American  Methodism  was  again  brought  before  the 
General  Conference,  and  recommendation  made  that  it  be 
properly  observed. 

The  venerable  senior  bishop,  Morris,  was  invited  to  deliver 
Bishop  Mor-  a  semi-centennial  sermon  before  the  General  Con- 
centenrfiai1*  ference,  as  he  had  just  completed  half  a  century  in 
sermon.  the  Methodist  ministry.  On  the  10th  of  May,  before 
this  honorable  body,  he  preached  one  of  his  characteristic  ser- 
mons. The  text  was  Isa.  lix,  21.  His  closing  words  were  full 
of  prophetic  instinct.  "  TTe  believe,  also,"  said  he,  "  that  the 
Southern  rebellion  will  be  crushed,  slavery  abolished,  the  union 
of  the  States  restored,  a  permanent  peace  established,  and  last, 
though  not  least,  after  all  this,  we  shall  have  such  a  revival  of 
the  work  of  Gcd  as  the  world  has  never  seen.    We  have  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  237 


dawning  of  this  glorious  day  already,  and  we  believe  the  sun 
wil!  soon  arise  in  full  splendor,  and  from  every  hill  and  valley 
will  go  up  the  shout,  4  Halleluiah  !  the  Lord  God  omnipotent 
reigneth.'  " 

The  official  visitors  were  highly  cultured  and  leading  men  in 
their  various  denominations.  Rev.  W.  L.  Thornton,  official  visit- 
A.M.,  came  from  the  British  Conference  ;  Rev.  Rob-  ors- 
inson  Scott,  D.D.,  from  the  Irish  Conference  ;  Revs.  James 
Gardiner  and  Samuel  Morrison,  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Canada;  and  Rev.  John  Carroll  and  Rev.  Dr.  S.  S. 
Nelles,  from  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church,  Canada.  The 
addresses  of  these  representatives  showed  that  Methodism  had 
no  need  to  fear  that  either  grace  or  culture  was  dying  out  in 
any  of  her  branches. 

Among  the  proceedings  we  mention  the  following : 

1.  For  several  years  there  had  been  an  agitation  of   „  . 

d  °  Extension  of 

the  question  of  extending  the  term  of  ministerial  ministerial 
service  in  the  same  charge.    Origin-ally  there  had 
been  no  limit.    In  1804  a  limit  of  two  years  was  imposed.  In 
1864  the  term  was  extended  to  three  years.    No  further  exten- 
sion was  made  until  188S,  when  the  term  was  finally  lengthened 
to  five  years. 

2.  The  necessity  for  some  provision  for  holding  certain 
properties  that  wrere  left  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Trustees  for 
Church  led  this  General  Conference  to  provide  for  tQeCn»rch. 
a  board  of  trustees  to  be  properly  incorporated.    Soon  after- 
ward they  were  incorporated  by  the  legislature  of  Ohio. 

3.  A  long-felt  want  of  some  properly  equipped  society  for 
the  supervision  of  the  work  of  church-building,  and  church  ex- 
the  extension  of  the  Church  into  destitute  and  front-  tension- 
ier  portions  of  the  country,  was  supplied  at  this  time  by  the 
formation  of  the  Church  Extension  Society.  Rev.  S.  Y.  Monroe, 
D.D.,  was  its  first  corresponding  secretary.  After  his  untimely 
death  Rev.  Dr.  A.  J.  Kynett,  of  Upper  Iowa  Conference,  was 
appointed.  The  career  of  this  society  has  been  one  of  un- 
paralleled success.  There  have  been  built  thousands  of  churches 
through  its  instrumentality.    It  has  created  a  style  of  architect- 


23S  MANUAL  OF 

ure  which  lias  greatly  beautified  the  churches  of  Methodism. 
Its  good  work  has  only  been  bounded  by  its  resources. 

4.  The  question  of  slavery,  which  had  so  long  troubled  the 
Slavery        Church,  and  especially  the  General  Conference,  arose 

again.  There  were  two  reports,  but  the  majority  re- 
port was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  207  to  9.  The  rule  on  slavery 
was  made  to  forbid  "  slave  holding,  buying  or  selling  slaves." 

5.  Bishop  Ames,  Joseph  Cummings,  George  Peck,  Charles 

Elliott,  and  Granville  Moody  were  appointed  a  corn- 
Address  to        .  .  .    _^   .  .  .  1  1 
president       niittee  to  visit  W  asliiiigton,  bearing  an  address  to 

Lincoln.  ^  p^gj^t  0f  t}ie  United  States,  with  the  assur- 
ances of  the  loyalty  and  steadfastness  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church.  They  proceeded  to  that  city,  called  on  President 
Lincoln,  and  presented  to  him  the  address.  President  Lincoln 
made  a  short  but  excellent  reply,  which  was  received  with  de- 
light by  the  whole  Church.  The  address  of  the  General  Con- 
ference was  as  follows  : 


u  To  his  Excellency  Abraham  Lincoln^  President  of  the  United 
States  : 

"  The  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
now  in  session  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  representing  nearly 
seven  thousand  ministers  and  nearly  a  million  of  members, 
mindful  of  their  duty  as  Christian  citizens,  takes  the  earliest 
opportunity  to  express  to  you  the  assurance  of  the  loyalty  of 
the  Church,  her  earnest  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  country, 
and  her  sympathy  with  you  in  the  great  responsibilities  of  your 
high  position  in  this  trying  hour. 

"With  exultation  we  point  to  the  record  of  our  Church  as 
having  never  been  tarnished  by  disloyalty.  She  was  the  first 
of  the  Churches  to  express,  by  a  deputation  of  her  most  distil* 
guished  ministers,  the  promise  of  support  to  the  government  in 
the  days  of  Washington.  In  her  Articles  of  Religion  she  has 
enjoined  loyalty  as  a  duty;  and  has  ever  given  to  the  govern- 
ment her  most  decided  support. 

"  In  this  present  struggle  for  the  nation's  life  many  thou- 
sands of  her  members,  and  a  large  number  of  her  ministers,  have 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


239 


rushed  to  arms  to  maintain  the  cause  of  God  and  humanity. 
They  have  sealed  their  devotion  to  their  country  with  their 
blood  on  every  battle-field  of  tin's  terrible  war. 

t%  We  regard  this  dreadful  scourge  now  desolating  onr  land 
and  wasting  the  nation's  life  as  the  result  of  a  most  unnatural, 
utterly  unjustifiable  rebellion,  involving  the  crime  of  treason 
against  the  best  of  human  governments,  and  sin  against  God. 
It  required  our  government  to  submit  to  its  own  dismem- 
berment and  destruction,  leaving  it  no  alternative  but  to  pre- 
serve the  national  integrity  by  the  use  of  the  national  resources. 
If  the  government  had  failed  to  use  its  power  to  preserve  the 
unity  of  the  nation  and  maintain  its  authority,  it  would  have 
been  justly  exposed  to  the  wrath  of  Heaven  and  to  the  reproach 
and  scorn  of  the  civilized  world. 

"  Our  earnest  and  constant  prayer  is,  that  this  cruel  and 
wicked  rebellion  may  be  speedily  suppressed ;  and  we  pledge 
you  our  hearty  co-operation  in  all  appropriate  means  to  secure 
this  object. 

"  Loyal  and  hopeful  in  national  adversity,  in  prosperity  thank- 
ful, we  most  heartily  congratulate  you  on  the  glorious  victories 
recently  gained,  and  rejoice  in  the  belief  that  our  complete 
triumph  is  near. 

"We  believe  that  our  national  sorrows  and  calamities  have 
resulted  in  a  great  degree  from  our  forget  fulness  of  God  and 
oppression  of  our  fellow-men.  Chastened  by  affliction,  may 
the  nation  humbly  repent  of  her  sins,  lay  aside  her  haughty 
pride,  honor  God  in  all  future  legislation,  and  render  justice  to 
all  who  have  been  wronged. 

"  We  honor  you  for  your  proclamation  of  liberty,  and  re- 
joice in  all  the  acts  of  the  government  designed  to  secure  free- 
dom to  the  enslaved. 

"We  trust  that  when  military  usages  and  necessities  shall 
justify  interference  with  established  institutions  and  the  re- 
moval of  wrongs  sanctioned  by  law,  the  occasion  will  be  imr 
proved,  not  merely  to  injure  our  foes  and  increase  the  national 
resources,  but  also  as  an  opportunity  to  recognize  our  obliga- 
tions to  God  and  to  honor  his  law.    We  pray  that  the  time 


240 


MANUAL  OF 


may  speedily  come  when  this  shall  be  truly  a  republican  and 
free  country,  in  no  part  of  which,  either  State  or  Territory, 
shall  slavery  be  known. 

"  The  prayers  of  millions  of  Christians,  witli  an  earnestness 
never  manifested  for  rulers  before,  daily  ascend  to  heaven  that 
you  ma}T  be  endued  with  all  needed  wisdom  and  power.  Actu- 
ated by  the  sentiments  of  the  loftiest  and  purest  patriotism,  our 
prayer  shall  be  continually  for  the  preservation  of  our  country 
undivided,  for  the  triumph  of  our  cause,  and  for  a  permanent 
peace,  gained  by  the  sacrifice  of  no  moral  principles,  but 
founded  on  the  word  of  God,  and  securing  in  righteousness 
liberty  and  eqnal  rights  to  all. 

';  Signed  in  behalf  of 'the  General  Conference  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.        Joseph  Cummixgs,  Chairman" 

The  President  replied  as  follows: 

u  Gentlemen  :  In  response  to  your  address  allow  me  to  attest 
Lincoln's  accuracy  of  its  historical  statements,  indorse  the 

rePly-  sentiments  it  expresses,  and  thank  you  in  the  nation's 

name  for  the  sure  promise  it  gives. 

"  Nobly  sustained  as  the  government  has  been  by  all  the 
Churches,  I  would  utter  nothing  which  might  in  the  least  ap- 
pear invidious  against  any.  Yet  without  this  it  may  fairly  be 
said  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  not  less  devoted  than 
the  best,  is,  by  its  greater  numbers,  the  most  important  of  all. 
It  is  no  fault  in  others  that  the  Methodist  Church  sends  more 
soldiers  to  the  field,  more  nurses  to  the  hospitals,  and  more 
prayers  to  heaven,  than  any.  God  bless  the  Methodist  Church  ! 
bless  all  the  Churches !  and  blessed  be  God !  who  in  this  our 
great  trial  giveth  us  the  Churches. 

"  [Signed]  A.  Lincoln." 

G.  An  important  paper  was  presented  to  the  General  Con- 
state of  the  ference  regarding  the  state  of  the  country.  The 
country.  Church  fully  realized  the  perils  which  threatened 
the  nation.  The  action  of  the  Conference  cannot  be  better 
told  than  in  the  words  of  the  resolutions: 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


241 


"  Resolved,  That  in  this  hour  of  the  nation's  trial  we  will  re- 
member the  President  of  the  United  States,  all  other  officers  of 
the  government,  and  our  army  and  navy,  in  never-ceasing  prayer. 

u  Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  government  to  prose- 
cute the  war  with  all  its  resources  of  men  and  money  till  this 
wicked  rebellion  shall  be  subdued,  the  integrity  of  the  nation 
shall  be  secured,  and  its  legitimate  authority  shall  be  re-estab- 
lished, and  that  we  pledge  our  hearty  support  and  co-operation 
to  secure  this  result. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  regard  our  calamities  as  resulting  from, 
our  forgetfulness  of  God,  and  from  slavery,  so  long  our  nation's 
reproach,  and  that  it  becomes  us  to  humble  ourselves  and  for- 
sake our  sins  as  a  people,  and  hereafter,  in  all  our  laws  and' 
acts,  to  honor  God. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  will  use  our  efforts  to  secure  such  a 
change  in  the  Constitution  of  our  country  as  shall  recognize 
the  being  of  God,  our  dependence  on  him  for  prosperity,  and 
also  his  word  as  the  foundation  of  civil  law. 

"Resolved,  That  we  regard  slavery  as  abhorrent  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  our  holy  religion,  humanity,  and  civilization,, and  that 
we  are  decidedly  in  favor  of  such  an  amendment  to  the  Con- 
stitution and  such  legislation  on  the  part  of  the  States  as  shall 
prohibit  slavery  or  involuntary  servitude,  except  for  crime, 
throughout  all  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  country. 

"Resolved,  That  while  we  deplore  the  evils  of  war  that  has 
filled  our  land  with  mourning  we  rejoice  in  the  sublime  mani- 
festations of  benevolence  it  has  developed,  as  seen  in  the  Sani- 
tary and  Christian  Commissions,  and  in  the  associations  formed 
to  aid  the  vast  multitudes  who  have  recently  become  freemen, 
and  that  we  pledge  to  these  institutions  our  hearty  co-operation 
and  support." 

7.  It  was  recommended  that  the  first  regular  prayer-meeting 
of  each  month  be  set  apart  as  a  concert  of  prayer  for  missions. 
It  was  resolved  that  our  foreign  missions  should  be  Mlaslona  and 
organized  into  Annual  Mission  Conferences  as  soon  Mission  con- 
as  their  condition  should  render  such  organization 

practicable.    But  three  limitations  were  placed  on  the  privi- 
17 


242 


MANUAL  OF 


leges  of  these  Mission  Conferences.  They  were  not  to  send 
delegates  to  the  General  Conference,  were  not  to  draw  divi- 
dends from  the  Book  Concern,  and  were  not  to  vote  on  consti- 
tutional questions.  The  Liberia  Conference  was  authorized  to 
elect,  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  an  elder  in  good  standing  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  bishops  were  to  ordain 
him  a  bishop,  his  episcopal  jurisdiction  to  be  expressly  confined 
to  Africa.  Rev.  John  Wright  Roberts  was  afterward  elected 
to  this  office.  He  came  to  the  United  States,  was  ordained  in 
St.  Paul's  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  New  York,  June  20, 
1806,  and  on  the  25th  returned  to  Liberia. 

8.  The  subject  of  education  was  carefully  canvassed,  and  an 
effort  made  to  devise  a  uniform  system.     A  committee  ap- 
pointed by  the  General  Conference  of  I860  to  pre- 
pare a  plan  for  the  organization  of  a  permanent 

board  of  education  had  studied  the  situation  for  four  years, 
and  collected  by  correspondence  full  statistics  of  the  schools  of 
the  Church,  but  had  found  themselves  unable  to  fix  upon  any 
practicable  plan  for  the  organization  of  such  a  board,  and  no 
definite  steps  for  such  organization  were  taken  by  this  General 
Conference.  Educational  conventions  had  been  held  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  with  marked  success,  and  considerable  pub- 
lic interest  was  awakened  in  this  department  of  church  work. 
The  relation  between  sanctified  education  and  the  spread  of  the 
Gospel  was  brought  by  the  action  of  the  General  Conference 
prominently  before  the  minds  of  Christians.  The  duty  of  sup- 
porting these  educational  enterprises  by  gifts  of  money  was 
emphasized.  The  necessity  for  aid  to  be  extended  to  needy 
and  deserving  young  men  who  were  preparing  for  the  ministry 
was  urged  with  great  power.  The  Biblical  Institute  at  Concord, 
X.  II.,  and  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute  at  Evanston,  111.,  were 
commended.  The  Church  was  fully  committed  to  the  cause 
of  ministerial  education.  It  was  made  the  duty  of  each 
preacher  in  charge  to  preach  on  the  subject  of  education  once 
each  year,  and  distribute  tracts  or  other  literature  on  this  sub- 
ject.   Collections  were  recommended  to  aid  this  work. 

9.  The  question  of  lay  delegation  had  been  agitated  to  some 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  243 

extent  during  the  four  years.  During  tlie  present  session  a 
convention  of  lay  men  was  held  in  Philadelphia  to  Laydeiega- 
f'urther  the  movement,  and  an  address,  signed  by  tUnu 
Thomas  Kneil  as  president  and  James  Strong  as  secretary,  was 
presented  to  the  General  Conference.  It  clearly  discussed  the 
subject  from  a  layman's  stand-point,  and  insisted  that  the  suc- 
cessful carrying  forward  of  the  plans  of  Christ  rests  "  upon  the 
mutual  concurrence  of  the  ministry  and  the  people." i  The 
General  Conference  re-affirmed  its  approval  of  "lay  represen- 
tation in  the  General  Conference  whenever  it  shall  be  ascer- 
tained that  the  Church  desires  it,"  but  could  as  yet  see  no  such 
declaration  of  the  popular  will  as  to  justify  the  taking  of  ad- 
vanced action  in  relation  to  it. 

10.  The  German  Methodists  had  asked  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  1860  to  provide  a  new  and  more  suitable  hymn-book 
for  their  use.  C.  Yost,  J.  Rothweiler,  G.  L.  Mul-  German 
finger,  J.  L.  Waltlier,  J.  II.  Earth,  and  William  bymu-book. 
Nast  were  appointed  to  prepare  such  a  hymn-book.  At  this 
General  Conference  they  presented  their  work,  which  was  ac- 
cepted and  afterward  published.  The  book  contained  seven 
hundred  hymns,  so  arranged  as  to  present  a  systematic  classifi- 
cation based  upon  the  theology  of  Methodism. 

11.  The  German  work  had  so  grown  in  magnitude  and  im- 
portance that  it  became  necessary  to  erect  the  work  into  distinct 
Confer  ences.  Up  to  that  time  it  had  been  customary  Qerman  con. 
to  arrange  the  German  work  in  an  American  Con-  fences, 
ference  so  that  one  or  more  German  presiding  elders  should 
serve  all  the  German  charges  within  its  bounds.  This  was 
distasteful  to  the  Germans,  and  they  petitioned  the  General 
Conference  for  separate  Annual  Conferences.  Three  German 
Conferences  were  accordingly  formed,  and  provision  was  made 
for  the  eventual  formation  of  a  fourth. 

12.  For  some  years  a  feeling  had  existed  that  the  ritual  of 
the  Church  might  be  advantageously  revised.    While  Method- 
ism is  far  from  being  a  ritualistic  Church,  still  it  is     Revision  of 
necessary  that  there  shall  be  some  forms  for  the  rituaL 
proper  celebration  of  the  sacraments,  ordinances,  and  certain 


MANUAL  OF 


other  services  of  the  Church.  The  ritual  in  general  is  an 
abridgment  of  that  of  the  Church  of  England.  A  committee, 
with  Dr.  (afterward  bishop)  Clark -as  chairman,  had  been, 
by  direction  of  the  General  Conference  of  I860,  at  work  upon 
a  revision,  which  was  presented  at  this  session.  The  revised 
ritual  was  examined,  carefully  considered,  and  at  last  adopted, 
and  still  continues  to  be  the  authorized  ritual  of  the  Church. 

13.  Davis  W.  Clark,  Edward  Thomson,  and  Calvin  Kingsley 
were  elected  and  consecrated  bishops.    They  were  three  of  the 
strong  men  of  American  Methodism;    Thomas  Carl- 

Blecticms.  _    _  _ 

ton  and  James  rorter  were  elected  hook  agents  at 
New  York,  Adam  Poe  and  Luke  Hitchcock  at  Cincinnati ;  J. 
P.  Durbin,  corresponding  secretary,  and  W.  L.  Harris  and  J. 
M.  Trimble,  assistant  corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society;  Daniel  Curry,  editor  of  Christian  Ad  rotate 
and  Journal ;  D.  D.  Whedon,  editor  of  Methodist  Quarterly 
Review;  Daniel  Wise,  editor  of  Sunday-school  books  and 
papers;  William  Nast,  editor  of  Christian  Apologist;  B.  F. 
Crary,  editor  of  Central  Christ  tan  Advocate;  S.  II.  Kesbit, 
editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate ;  E.  Thomas,  editor 
of  California  Christian  Advocate  ;  T.  M.  Eddy,  editor  of 
North-western  Christian  Advocate ;  J.  M.  He  id,  editor  of 
Western  Christian  Advocate;  L  W.  Wiley,  editor  of  Ladies'' 
Repository  ;  Stephen  D.  Brown,  editor  of  Pacific  Christian 
Advocate;  J.  T.  Peck,  editor  of  Northern  Christian  Advo- 
cate. The  last  two  declined,  and  II.  C.  Benson  and  D.  D. 
Lore  were  respectively  elected  in  their  places. 

1L  The  bishops  were  authorized  to  appoint  members  of 
Annual  Conferences  as  chaplains  to  hospitals,  prisons,  and  in 
other  legisia-  tne  annJ  or  »*vy  for  a  longer  period  than  three 
Uon-  successive  years.     It  was  enacted  that  no  mem- 

ber of  the  Church  should  be  allowed  to  preach  without  a 
license.  It  was  ordered  that  ministers  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  South,  desiring  to  unite  with  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  be  received  on  the  same  conditions  as  those 
from  other  branches  of  Methodism,  "  provided  they  give  satis- 
factory assurances  to  an  Annual  or  Quarterly  Conference  of 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  245 


their  loyalty  to  the  national  government  and  hearty  approval 
of  the  antislavery  doctrine  of  the  Church."  The  session  closed 
with  fifty-four  established  Conferences  and  provision  for  an- 
other— the  East  German — besides  the  Mission  Conferences. 

The  General  Conference  adjourned  on  May  27,  1864,  after  a 
most  profitable  session  and  a  thorough  canvass  of  the  Church 
in  all  of  its  multiplied  departments  and  interests.  While  the 
fortunes  of  war  had  been  antagonistic  to  Christianity  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Clmrcli  stood  firm,  and  grew  even  stronger 
during  those  troubled  times.  Never  for  a  moment  was  the 
Church  disloyal  to  the  national  government. 

As  early  as  1864  several  ministers  who  had  left  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  South,  were  admitted  to  the  work  in  the 
traveling  connection  in  the  Kentucky  Conference.  South- 
Tennessee  was  still  unsettled.  Both  armies  were  tramping 
there  ;  "  but  loyal  Methodists  besought  the  Church  to  come  to 
them."  The  Mount  Sterling  District  of  the  Kentucky  Confer- 
ence was  formed  in  eastern  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  in  1864,  and 
D.  L.  Barrow  was  made  presiding  elder.  The  preachers  who 
first  entered  the  work  in  Tennessee,  "  and  others  who  joined  them 
afterward,  engaged  actively  in  traveling  through  the  country,  as 
they  had  opportunity,  preaching  and  delivering  addresses,  set- 
ting forth  the  purposes  for  which  they  were  there,  and  what 
they  proposed  to  do.  They  invited  all  who  desired  to  belong 
to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  as  it  was  before  the  division 
of  1844,  to  come  together  and  become  so  enrolled,  with  no 
other  tests  or  conditions  than  those  laid  down  in  the  Discipline. 
They  were  well  received  by  the  loyal  portion  of  the  people, 
who  constituted  a  large  majority  of  the  whole.  .  .  .  The  mission 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  East  Tennessee,  and  in- 
deed in  all  the  South,  was  to  a  people  asking  for  her  ministra- 
tions— to  sheep  without  a  shepherd — and  her  ministers  came 
not  as  intruders,  but  as  invited  by  the  people  to  whom  they 
came.  Many  were  even  then  still  living  who  had  been  con- 
nected with  the  Church  before  the  separation,  and  who  had 
always  been  opposed  to  slavery,  and  had  been  carried  over  to 
the  Southern  Church  against  their  decided  and  earnest  protest. 


246 


MANUAL  OF 


They  hailed  with  joy  the  privilege  of  returning  to  the  old  fold? 
and  of  course  were  ready  to  receive  with  open  arms  the  men 
who  came  to  receive  them  back  again."  * 

Bishop  Clark  went  into  the  South,  valiantly  striving  to 
reconstruct  the  Church.    He  writes  from  Nashville,  Tenn., 
May,  29,  1865  :  "  On  Saturday  we  had  interviews 
wtt^Govern^   with  Governor  Brownlow  and  various  other  persons. 

orBrowniow  p>llt  none  was  ,nore  notable  than  that  with  Kev.  J. 
and  others.  # 

B.  McFerrin,  D.D.,  the  book  agent  of  the  Church, 
South.  lie  was  for  two  years  in  the  rebel  service,  and  was  sur- 
rendered with  Johnston's  army.  He  had  reached  Nashville  and 
taken  the  amnesty  oath  only  the  day  before.  Our  interview  was 
protracted  four  hours.  He  seeks  the  consolidation  of  the  whole 
Church,  but  wants  the  Church,  South,  to  be  received  back  as  a 
whole,  with  the  bishops  and  other  officers  in  their  official  posi- 
tions. He  says  the  South  thought  they  were  right,  and  made  a 
gallant  fight,  but  are  subdued,  and  slavery  is  gone,  and  now 
they  mean  to  submit  as  good  citizens/'  f 

Bishop  Clark  organized  the  Holston  Conference  at  Athene, 

Tenn.,  in  June,  1865.    The  circumstances  attending 

Holston  Con-    ...  .  & 

ference  or-  its  assembling  and  its  work  made  the  occasion  one  of 
unusual  interest.  Six  men  from  the  North  had  been 
transferred  there  as  a  nucleus  of  a  Conference.  Forty-two  new 
men  were  admitted,  of  whom  thirty-two  came  directly  from  the 
Church,  South.  Six  of  these  were  supernumeraries  and  four 
were  superannuates.  The  Conference  represented  fifty -five 
local  preachers  and  six  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven 
church  members,  who  welcomed  the  old  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Many  of  these  had  been  in  the  Church  when  it 
"  knew  no  North,  no  South."  They  were  loyal  men  who  be- 
sought the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  to  return  to  their  hills 
and  valleys,  so  that  they  might  again  be  within  its  folds.  The 
next  year  Bishop  Clark  was  again  sent  to  hold  the  Holston 
Conference.  The  year  had  been  one  of  great  trial  within  the 
Conference,  but  at  the  same  time  there  had  been  gracious 
revivals,  and  many  had  been  added  to  the  Church.  This 
*  Curry,  Life  Story  of  Bishop  Clark,  pp.  204,  205.  f  Ibid.,  p.  205. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  247 


Conference  adopted  a  report  on  the  "state  of  the  Church,"  in 
which  these  loyal  men  stated  clearly,  yet  without  bitterness, 
their  loyalty  to  the  Church  and  government.  On  this  "  plat- 
form of  the  newly  regenerated  principles  of  the  American 
people''  they  placed  themselves.  They  hailed  the  return  of 
peace  and  the  reign  of  righteousness.  The  Church  was  now 
fully  established  in  East  Tennessee,  and  there  was  a  reaching 
out  for  greater  educational  advantages  than  they  had  ever  be- 
fore possessed. 

October  11,  1866,  Bishop  Clark  organized  the  Tennessee 
Conference  at  Murfreesbo rough.    This  was  a  Conference  com- 
posed both  of  white  and  colored  members,  and  so  Tennessee 
remained  until  ten  years  later,  when  the  colored  conference 

,  .'     ,   .  n     £  organized. 

members  were  organized  into  a  separate  (Jonterence. 
There  was  some  criticism  at  the  course  of  the  Church  in  thus 
entering  Southern  territory,  but  lapse  of  time  and  the  excel- 
lent results  of  the  enterprise  have  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of 
the  movement. 

At  the  session  of  the  Kentucky  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  in  September,  1865,  eighteen  of  its 
members,  including  some  of  its  ablest  ministers,  with-  Kentucky 
drew,  and  were  received  as  local  preachers  in  a  Quar-  conference, 
terly  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
Kentucky  Conference  of  our  Church  met  in  February,  1866, 
Bishop  Clark  presiding.  These  men  were  received  into  full 
connection  as  members  of  the  Conference  and  were  given  reg- 
ular appointments.* 

The  great  measures  that  most  bless  mankind  are  born  of 
necessity.  When  the  freed  men  became  a  charge  upon  the 
sympathies  of  the  Christian  people  of  America  the  Freedmen's 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  began  to  meet  her  Aid  Society- 
part  of  this  responsibility  by  the  formation  of  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  Society.  Previous  to  1866  the  Church  had  worked  in 
harmony  with  undenominational  societies.  But  the  settled 
belief  was  that  denominational  effort  would  accomplish  far 
more  toward  the  education  and  Christianizing  of  the  dark 

*  Life  Slory  of  Bishop  Clark,  pp.  217-219. 


248 


MANUAL  OF 


wards  of  the  nation.  This  view  led  a  number  of  prominent 
Methodists,  at  a  convention  in  Cincinnati,  to  organize  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Freed  men's  Aid  Society  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the 
Church.  The  response  was  not  at  first  as  great  as  desired,  and 
yet  the  first  year's  collections  amounted  to  $37,139.89.  This 
was  applied  solely  to  educational  work  among  the  freedmen. 
During  the  first  school  year,  which  began  in  November,  1866, 
forty -two  teachers  were  employed,  the  number  increasing  to 
seventy-five  before  the  close  of  the  second  year.  In  1868  the 
General  Conference  recognized  the  society,  and  recommended 
for  it  an  annual  contribution  in  each  charge.  Dr.  B.  S.  Rust 
was  appointed  corresponding  secretary.  He  was  an  efficient 
organizer.  The  cause  appealed  to  the  sympathies  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  teachers  offered  themselves  for  the  Southern  field. 

There  was  a  general  feeling  that  the  freedmen  must  be  spir- 
itually and  educationally  cared  for  to  prevent  their  becoming  a 
condition  of  source  of  most  terrible  danger.  Freed  from  the  re- 
tne  freedmen.  Btraints  of  masters,  enjoying  an  unaccustomed  lib- 
erty, giving  free  play  to  pent-up  passions,  tasting  of  sweets 
never  known  before,  these  millions  were  a  dangerous  element 
of  society,  and  might  at  any  moment  break  away  from  all  re- 
straint and  commit  depredations  upon  innocent  people.  The 
Freedmen 's  Aid  Society,  with  kindred  societies  in  other 
Churches,  has  taken  up  the  work  of  cultivating  both  head  and 
heart  of  the  black  race.  Most  wonderful  results  have  followed. 
Large  and  flourishing  churches  have  been  built,  good  congrega- 
tions gathered,  schools  for  higher  education  of  teachers,  preach- 
ers, physicians,  and  men  of  science  founded  and  admirably 
equipped.  The  "  brother  in  black  "  has  ascended  many  de- 
grees in  the  scale  of  respectability  and  godlikeness.  It  has 
been  the  pleasing  thought  with  some  philanthropists  that 
Africa's  continent  is  to  be  regenerated  through  the  Africans 
in  the  United  States.  u  Providence  has  two  modes  of  evan- 
gelizing," said  Bishop  Thomson — "  sending  Christians  into 
pagandom  and  sending  pagans  into  Christendom.  Behold  our 
providential  African  mission  !  " 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  249 


Soon  after  Lincoln's  assassination  Bishop  Janes  sailed  from 
New  York  to  England  as  the  official  representative  of  our 
Church  to  British  Method  ism.  lie  left  the  loyal  Bjsn0p  janes 
portion  of  the  country  bathed  in  tears  for  the  mar-  in  England, 
tyred  president.  He  found  great  numbers  of  English  Christians 
who  were  deeply  moved  by  the  sad  calamity,  and  who  had  no 
words  but  those  of  execration  for  the  assassin  and  of  sympathy 
for  the  bereaved  nation.  The  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society 
was  holding  its  anniversary  in  Exeter  Hall,  London.  Bishop 
Janes  addressed  the  vast  concourse,  and  spoke  of  the  assassina- 
tion of  Lincoln,  the  feeling  of  spontaneous  sympathy  with 
which  Christian  England  had  received  the  news,  the  ties  which 
bound  the  two  nations  together,  and  his  belief  that,  while  ';  the 
permissive  providence  of  God  is  to  us  a  strange  one,"  neverthe- 
less "the  wrath  of  man  shall  praise  him,  and  the  remainder  of 
wrath  will  he  restrain."  He  spoke  also  of  the  work  of  the 
Church,  especially  its  new  work  in  the  South,  and  of  its  pur- 
poses and  hopes  for  the  future.  The  words  of  Bishop  Janes  at 
that  time  in  England  did  a  service  to  our  nation  and  our  Church 
which  can  never  be  fully  appreciated. 

Recognizing  1766  as  the  year  in  which  Methodism  was  born 
in  America,  the  General  Conference  had  made  ample  arrange- 
ments for  the  proper  observance  of  the  centennial  centenary 
anniversary  in  1866.  It  was  proposed  that  contribu-  yean 
tions  should  be  made  of  not  less  than  two  million  dollars  for 
educational  and  connectional  purposes.  The  bishops,  twelve 
ministers,  and  twelve  laymen  were  appointed  by  the  General 
Conference  a  committee  to  properly  appropriate  and  distribute 
the  money  which  should  be  collected.  The  Annual  Confer- 
ences were  also  authorized  to  select  for  themselves  more  special 
objects  for  their  contributions.  The  year  opened  with  suitable 
commemorative  religious  services,  and  from  that  time  until 
October  many  great  gatherings  were  held  in  honor  of  the  an- 
niversary. The  attention  of  all  Methodist  people  throughout 
the  world  was  turned  to  this  commemoration.  During  the 
month  of  October  the  final  and  most  important  celebration 
took  place.    "  The  churches,  however,"  says  Simpson,  "  pre- 


250 


MANUAL  OF 


f erred  local  enterprises,  such  as  the  erection  of  edifices  of  wor- 
ship and  the  removal  of  debts  on  church  property  and  the 
establishment  or  endowment  of  local  seminaries  or  colleges." 
"When  the  results  of  the  centennial  celebration  were  announced 
the  Church  was  much  surprised  and  encouraged.  Many  new 
churches  had  been  erected,  old  churches  had  been  freed  from 
debt,  new  schools  had  been  founded  and  wholly  or  in  part  en- 
dowed, a  "  connectional  educational  fund  "  had  been  established, 
together  with  a  "  children's  fund,"  which  became  a  nucleus  of 
the  Board  of  Education,  one  of  the  grandest  schemes  inaugu- 
rated for  the  future  welfare  of  the  Church.  Altogether  the 
contributions  amounted  to  about  eight  million  dollars.  There 
had  also  been  great  spiritual  revival  and  advancement  in  the 
Church. 

Under  the  stimulus  of  the  centennial  year  a  number  of  im- 
portant educational  enterprises  were  inaugurated. 

Drew  Theo-     1  r  o 

logical  semi-  Drew  Theological  Seminary  was  founded  in  1866 
by  Daniel  Drew,  of  New  York.  He  proposed  to 
give  $500,000  for  this  purpose.  Said  President  (now  bishop) 
Hurst :  "  This  generous  benefaction,  afterward  largely  in- 
creased, was  gratefully  accepted  by  the  Church.  The  gift  was 
a  surprise  to  the  whole  country,  for  it  was  the  first  of  its  mag- 
nitude, for  a  similar  purpose,  in  American  history."  Eighty 
acres  of  land,  commodious  buildings  for  the  seminary,  and  res- 
idences for  the  professors  were  included  in  this  princely  gift, 
besides  a  sum  of  $250,000,  intended  as  a  permanent  endowment, 
the  principal  of  which  was  never  paid,  but  the  interest  on 
which  was  paid  annually  for  nearly  ten  years.  Reverses  of 
fortune  prevented  Mr.  Drew  from  fully  carrying  out  his  plans. 
Yet,  acccording  to  President  Hurst's  report  to  the  General 
Conference  of  1880,  his  total  gifts  amounted  to  about  $600,000 ; 
and  he  advanced  the  enterprise  to  such  a  point  that  its  future 
success  was  certain.  The  school  was  formally  opened  in  No- 
vember, 186T,  with  Dr.  John  McClintock  as  president.  Many 
noble  men  have  received  their  theological  education  here. 
Two  of  its  presidents  have  been  elected  to  the  episcopacy. 
Money  has  been  given,  until  now  it  possesses  a  good  endow- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  251 


ment.  But  the  mission  of  this  seminary,  the  third  in  our 
Methodism,  seems  but  begun. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the  centennial  year  also  added  to  the 
Garrett  Biblical  Institute  a  much-needed  building 

to      Heck  Hall. 

for  recitation  and  dormitory  uses.  It  cost  about 
$£0,000,  and  was  erected  by  an  association  of  ladies  formed  for 
that  purpose  and  was  presented  to  the  institute.  It  was  named 
Heck  Hall,  in  honor  of  Barbara  Heck,  who  has  been  called 
44  the  mother  of  American  Methodism."  It  was  dedicated  July 
4,  1867,  Bishop  Clark  delivering  the  principal  address.  There 
were  those  who  opposed  the  efforts  for  a  thorough  education 
of  the  ministry,  and  predicted  that  because  of  it  the  Church 
would  lose  its  simplicity,  spirituality,  and  power.  Bishop 
Clark,  in  an  admirable  manner,  vindicated  the  past  and  com- 
mended the  present  policy  of  education  as  eminently  wise. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  a  promising  center  for  religious  and 
educational  work,  from  which  the  influence  of  both  Central  Ten_ 
could  go  forth  on  many  lines  and  reach  the  whole  of  lessee  coi- 
the  central  South.  It  had  been  the  head-quarters  of  Iege' 
the  Union  army  during  a  large  part  of  the  war,  and  great  num- 
bers of  negroes  had  gravitated  there.  "  Their  poverty  and 
ignorance  roused  the  sympathy  of  Christians  and  the  fears  of 
patriots."  Teachers  went  there  with  "  primer  and  spelling- 
book,  and  sought  to  help  the  poor  Africans." 

In  1865  Bishop  Clark  was  intrusted  by  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety with  $10,000  to  establish  a  freed  men's  school  in  the 
South-west.  He  decided  to  locate  it  at  Nashville  ;  and  in 
January,  1866,  it  was  opened  in  Clark  Chapel,  with  Rev.  Dr. 
John  Seys  and  Rev.  O.  O.  Knight  in  charge.  It  grew  in  a 
wonderful  manner.  The  chapel  being  too  small  to  accommo- 
date the  pupils  that  thronged  to  it,  an  armory,  which  had  been 
abandoned  by  the  Confederates  upon  the  approach  of  the 
Union  army,  was  fitted  up  by  the  government  and  turned  over 
to  the  school  by  the  trustees  of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau.  In  its 
second  year  the  school  enrolled  eight  hundred  pupils.  In  the 
meantime  the  city  of  Nashville  had  provided  public  instruction 
for  colored  children.    The  Church,  thus  relieved  of  the  neces- 


252 


MANUAL  OF 


sity  of  teaching  the  primary  brandies,  resolved  to  transform 
the  school  into  an  institution  for  the  higher  education  of  the 
Negro.  A  charter  was  obtained  in  1866,  and  in  September? 
1867,  the  Central  Tennessee  College  began  its  work,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society.  With  the  exception 
of  one  year  Rev.  Dr.  John  Brad  en  has  been  its  president  from 
the  beginning.  Besides  affording  an  opportunity  to  acquire  a 
thorough  English,  as  well  as  collegiate  education,  it  contains 
theological,  medical,  law,  and  industrial  departments,  and  dur- 
ing the  year  1890-91  was  attended  by  613  students.  This  in- 
stitution is  not  to  be  confounded  with  Fisk  University,  which 
is  also  located  at  Nashville,  but  is  not  under  the  supervision  of 
our  Church. 

This  educational  work  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  in  the 
other  schools  South  has  developed  into  large  proportions.  There 
in  the  south.  are  now  (1892)  about  forty  schools.  In  grade  they 
are  from  the  academy  to  the  university.  Some  of  the  schools 
organized  since  1880  are  for  the  education  of  white  students. 
It  was  found  necessary  to  change  or  add  to  the  original  idea, 
and  extend  aid  to  white  students.  The  number  who  have 
availed  themselves  of  these  educational  advantages  since  the 
work  was  first  organized  is  not  definitely  known,  but  cannot  be 
less  than  one  hundred  thousand. 

This  cjuadrennium  closed  with  a  large  increase  over  the 
statistics  of  1861.    There  were  1,255,115  members — 

Statistics. 

an  increase  of  326,795  ;  8,481  traveling  preachers — ■ 
an  increase  of  1,660 ;  9,899  local  preachers — an  increase  of 
1,694. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


253 


CHAPTEK  XXVII. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1868— EVENTS  OF  THE  QUADRENNIUM. 

The  fifteenth  delegated  and  twenty-first  General  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  assembled  in  the  city  of 
Chicago,  111.,  May  1,  1868.  Its  sessions  were  held  in  the  First 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  All  the  bishops  were  present, 
namely,  Morris,  Janes,  Scott,  Simpson,  Baker,  Ames,  Clark, 
Thomson,  and  Kingsley,  but  Bishop  Baker,  because  of  sickness, 
took  no  part  in  the  Conference.  There  were  two  hundred  and 
thirty  one  delegates.    W.  L.  Harris  was  re-elected  secretary. 

At  the  outset  of  the  Conference  came  up  the  question  of 
admitting  delegates  from  the  Mission  Conferences  Delegates 
organized  in  the  South  during  and  after  the  war   *wmf  Mission 

o  o  Conferences 

under  the  act  of  186i.  The  bishops  had  formed  admitted, 
the  Alabama,  Delaware,  Georgia,  Holston,  Mississippi,  South 
Carolina,  Tennessee,  Texas,  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  and 
Washington  Conferences.  Eleven  delegates  from  these  Con- 
ferences were  present,  with  credentials,  asking  for  admission. 
On  the  ninth  day  of  the  session  these  Conferences  were  recog- 
nized as  Annual  Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  "vested  with  all  the  rights,  privileges,  and  immunities 
usual  to  Annual  Conferences"  of  the  Church.  On  May  29  the 
same  action  was  taken  in  the  case  of  the  Liberia,  Germany  and 
Switzerland,  and  India  Mission  Conferences,  and  J.  T.  Gracey 
was  admitted  as  a  delegate  from  the  latter.  Twelve  delegates 
were  thus  added  to  the  roll  of  this  General  Conference. 

The  bishops  presented  their  usual  quadrennial  address,  re- 
counting their  labors,  the  difficulties  surrounding  the  Bishops' 
work,  and  the  success  of  the  Church.  The  address  address, 
was  read  by  Bishop  Simpson.  They  rejoiced  in  the  fact  that 
the  condition  of  the  country  had  greatly  improved  since  the 
last  General  Conference,  when  the  tide  of  war  was  still  high 
and  foes  were  meeting  in  deadly  conflict  on  the  battle-field. 


254 


MANUAL  OF 


They  referred  to  the  death  of  Rev.  L.  L.  Ilaniline,  D.D., 
once  an  honored  and  beloved  bishop  in  the  Methodist 

Death   of  1 

Hamiine  and  Episcopal  Church,  who  had  resigned  his  office  be- 

others 

cause  his  declining  health  prevented  his  fulfilling  its 
duties.  Born  in  Burlington,  Conn.,  May  10,  1797,  he  studied 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Lancaster,  O.  In  1S28  he 
became  a  Methodist,  was  soon  licensed  to  preach,  and  joined 
the  Ohio  Conference  in  1832.  He  was  elected  assistant  editor  of 
the  Western  Christian  Advocate  in  1S36,  and  re-elected  in 
1810,  but  became  the  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository  in 
January,  1841.  At  the  General  Conference  of  1814,  during 
the  great  controversy  on  the  slavery  question,  he  delivered  the 
remarkable  address  which  made  him  famous.  He  was  elected 
bishop  at  that  time,  but  resigned  in  1852.  He  died  February 
22, 1<%5.  His  dying  words  were,  "  O,  wondrous,  wondrous,  won- 
drous love !  "  Four  members  of  the  last  General  Conference 
had  died:  C.  B.  Tippett,  a  former  book  agent  at  Xew  York; 
Isaac  Owen,  the  religions  "  pathfinder  of  the  West ;"  Samuel 
Y.  Monroe,  correspondii.g  secretary  of  the  Church  Extension 
Society  ;  and  Henry  M.  Blake. 

Bishops  Janes  and  Kingsley  had  visited  the  missions  in  En- 
Mission  con-  roPe>  and  Bishop  Thomson  had  organized  the  India 
ferences.  Mission  Conference.  The  work  in  the  South  was 
referre  1  to,  and  the  organization  of  Mission  Conferences  in 
that  section  duly  approved.  Two  of  these,  the  Delaware  and 
the  Washington,  were  colored  Conferences,  and  their  creation 
"  was  hailed  by  our  colored  ministers  and  membership  with 
great  joy,  and  has,  we  believe,  been  productive  of  much  good." 
These  Mission  Conferences  had  elected  delegates  to  the  Gen- 
eral Conference,  who  were  present  waiting  admission.  The 
bishops  in  their  address  said,  "If,  in  your  wisdom,  any  mode 
for  their  legal  admission  can  be  found,  such  action  would 
greaily  advance  the  interests  of  the  churches  in  the  localities 
represented."  We  have  already  seen  that  these  delegates  were 
admitted,  and  the  Conferences  they  represented  recognized  as 
full  Annual  Conferences. 

The  address  showed  a  gratifying  increase  in  membership  and 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


255 


in  the  number  of  churches  and  value  of  church  property. 
The  increase  in  the  number  of  churches  was  1,691,  Growth  of 
and  in  their  value  $15,054,885,  or  over  seventy  per  »e  Church, 
cent,  in  four  years,  so  that  the  total  value  was  $35,885,439. 
The  number  of  parsonages  had  increased  717,  with  an  increase 
in  value  of  $2,571,145.  While  a  fraction  of  this  increase  was 
owing  to  a  general  rise  in  the  value  of  property,  most  of  it  was 
due  to  the  acquisition  of  new  property  by  means  of  the  volun- 
tary donations  of  the  people. 

The  results  of  the  centenary  contributions  were  presented, 
with  their  happy  effect  upon  the  educational  inter-  church  inter- 
ests of  the  Church.  The  old  school  at  Concord  had  ests- 
been  removed  to  Boston  and  was  now  the  Boston  Theological 
Seminary.  Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Dempster,  of  the  Garrett 
Biblical  Institute,  Miner  Raymond,  D.D.,  had  been  elected  to 
liis  chair.  The  foundation  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary  and 
the  charter  placing  it  under  the  control  of  the  General  Conference 
were  referred  to.  The  bishops  heartily  indorsed  the  movement 
for  the  education  of  young  ministers,  not  believing  that  better 
education  would  make  them  unpractical  or  less  useful  preachers. 
The  publishing  interests,  the  Sunday-school,  tract,  freedmen's 
aid,  and  church  extension  causes  were  shown  to  have  greatly 
prospered.  The  Sunday-school  Teachers'  Institute  had  been  of 
great  service  in  the  awakening  of  interest  in  Bible  study,  in- 
creasing the  attendance  of  older  persons,  and  providing  a  better 
class  of  teachers.  In  the  missionary  society  the  increase  of 
contributions  had  been  unparalleled,  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
traordinary centenary  contributions.  At  the  same  time  the 
fields  oj)ening  to  the  Church  among  the  heathen  had  so  multi- 
plied that  it  had  been  impossible  to  enter  upon  all  of  them. 
It  was  suggested  that  an  Annual  Conference  be  formed  in 
China.  The  Conference  boundary  question  had  been  referred 
to  the  bishops  four  years  before.  They  reported  that  the 
civil  boundaries  had  been  too  often  ignored  in  fixing  the  lim- 
its of  Annual  Conferences.  This  had  sometimes  caused  jeal- 
ousies and  inconveniences,  which  could  be  avoided  if  greater 
attention  were  paid  to  the  civil  boundaries.    They  were  pre- 


25G 


MANUAL  OP 


pared  to  give  suggestions  and  furnish  data  to  further  any  re- 
adjustment of  the  lines.  Lay  delegation  was  mentioned  as 
likely  to  be  a  prominent  issue  before  the  General  Conference. 

Bishop  Janes,  in  his  report  to  the  Conference  on  his  mission 
Report  of  as  fraternal  delegate  to  the  Methodist  Churches  of 
Bishop  janes.  Eiirope,  presented  a  thoughtful  survey  of  the  condi- 
tion of  Methodism  in  France  and  Great  Britain.  He  had  also 
visited  nearly  all  our  missions  in  Switzerland,  had  inspected  the 
work  in  Denmark,  and  had  presided  at  the  Mission  Conference 
at  Bremen.  He  emphasized  the  need  for  closer  connectional 
bonds  between  the  various  Methodistic  bodies  throughout  the 
world,  and  hoped  that  the  time  would  come  when  there  should 
be  a  "  General  Conference  "  representing  all  these  bodies.  His 
words  were  prophetic  of  the  meeting  of  the  two  Ecumenical 
Methodist  Conferences  already  held.  "  In  those  times,"  said 
he,  "  how  will  it  encourage  the  hearts  and  strengthen  the 
hands  of  those  who  may  compose  the  General  Conference  (and 
I  believe  there  are  men  here  who  will  be  there)  to  have  present, 
if  not  legal,  at  least  corresponding,  sympathizing  members 
from  England,  Ireland,  France,  Germany,  Turkey,  India, 
China,  Africa,  South  America,  and  the  islands  of  the  sea !  .  .  . 
Where  that  General  Conference  shall  meet,  whether  in  Chi- 
cago, or  Xew  York,  or  San  Francisco,  or  London,  or  Home,  or 
China,  I  do  not  know.  But,  meet  where  it  may,  it  will  be  a 
grand  power  for  the  transformation  of  the  world." 

Bishop  Thomson,  by  order  of  the  General  Conference  of 
18G1,  had  visited  India,  China,  and  Bulgaria.  His 

Report  of  '  . 

Bishop  Thom-  report,  though  not  written  until  after  delivery,  was 
a  valuable  paper.  He  left  the  country  in  the  midst 
of  war,  and  found  abroad  great  sympathy  for  the  Southern 
Confederacy.  After  surveying  the  entire  field  of  our  Indian 
missions  he  organized  at  Lucknow  the  India  Mission  Confer- 
ence,  and  ordained  on  the  same  platform  "white  and  black, 
Americans  and  Hindus."  This  was  a  blow  at  caste  system. 
At  Calcutta  he  dined  with  the  governor-general,  u  who  ex- 
pressed great  interest  in  our  missions ;  and  while  he  doubted 
whether  much  could  be  done  with  adults,  he  had  great  confi- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


257 


dence  in  the  schools,  and  to  them  we  must  look  for  India's 
redemption."  He  then  proceeded  to  China,  visited  the  mis- 
sions there,  and  returned  home  by  way  of  Egypt,  Syria,  Con- 
stantinople, and  Bulgaria. 

The  following  were  among  the  other  important  acts  of  this 
General  Conference : 

1.  The  Sunday-schools  were  ordered  to  be  organized  into 
missionary  societies  by  the  pastors  and  superintend- 

Missions. 

ents.  As  April  4,  1869,  would  complete  the  first  half 
century  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal. 
Church  it  was  determined  to  hold  a  missionary  jubilee  in  all 
the  churches  under  the  direction  of  the  pastors.  The  bishops 
wrere  to  arrange  for  suitable  visitation  of  the  foreign  missions 
during  the  next  quadrenniurn. 

2.  In  1836  the  General  Conference  passed  resolutions  cen- 
suring certain  of  its  members  "  for  lecturing  on  and  in  favor 
of  modern  abolitionism."  Some  of  these  men  had  taken  part 
in  the  secession  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Connection  in  1842. 
Among  them  was  the  Rev.  L.  C.  Matlack,  who  had  been  presi- 
dent of  the  General  Conference  of  that  body.  lie  had  now 
returned,  with  several  of  the  others,  and  was  pastor  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Elkton,  Md.  With  fifteen  of 
his  official  members  he  petitioned  this  General  Con-  ... 

-i  Slavery  res- 

ference  to  rescind  the  resolutions  of  1836,  and  this,  oiutions  re- 
after  due  deliberation,  was  done. 

3.  Rev.  William  M.  Punshon,  M.A.,  was  the  delegate  from 

the  British  Wesleyan  Conference  ;  Dr.  Ryerson,  from.  Fraternal 

the  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church:  in  deleffates- 

Canada ;  Dr.  Matthew  Richey,  from  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 

Church  of  Eastern  British  America ;  Rev.  William  Pirritte 

and  Rev.  George  Abbs,  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

in  Canada;  Rev.  R.  Dubs  and  Rev.  T.  G.  Clewcll,, from  the 

Evangelical  Association  ;  and  Bishop  S.  T.  Jones,  from  the 

African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church.    An  address  was 

received  from  the  Irish  Wesleyan  Conference.    The  relations 

between  these  Churches  and  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 

were  of  the  most  fraternal  character.    Mr.  Punshon  delivered, 
18 


258 


MANUAL  OF 


by  request,  before  the  General  Conference,  a  sermon  of  "  rare 
interest  and  power,  on  the  courage,  the  gentleness,  and  the  wis- 
dom of  Christianity."  At  once  he  took  a  high  place  in  the 
heart  of  the  American  Church. 

4.  Under  the  old  rule  a  presiding  elder  had  no  authority  to 
appoint  another  elder  to  hold  a  quarterly  meeting  and  preside 
Presiding  ei-  *n  a  QuarterIy  Conference.  There  were  times  when 
der's  substi-  this  caused  inconvenience.    It  was  now  enacted  that 

any  elder  in  his  district  might  be  appointed  by  the 
presiding  elder  to  hold  a  Quarterly  Conference,  and  in  case  of 
the  absence  of  both  presiding  elder  and  of  such  appointee  the 
preacher  in  charge  should  preside. 

5.  Children  who  had  been  baptized  had  been  recorded  on 
Baptized  cmi-  special  lists  on  the  church  books  since  1856,  but  pro- 
dren.  vision  had  not  been  made  for  their  reception  into 
full  connection,  for  they  were  not  regarded  as  probationers. 
Now  it  was  enacted  that  "  whenever  they  shall  have  attained 
an  age  sufficient  to  understand  the  obligations  of  religion,  and 
shall  give  evidence  of  piety,  they  may  be  admitted  into  full 
membership  in  our  Church  on  the  recommendation  of  a  leader 
with  whom  they  have  met  at  least  six  months  in  class,  by  pub- 
licly assenting  before  the  Church  to  the  baptismal  covenant, 
and  also  to  the  usual  questions  on  doctrines  and  discipline." 
Baptized  children  of  the  Church  were  also  ordered  to  be  organ- 
ized by  the  preacher  into  classes  "  at  the  age  of  ten  years  or 
younger,"  and  thus  were  recognized  as  probationers  in  the 
Church.  "  Rebaptism,  whether  of  tho?e  baptized  in  infancy 
or  adult  age,"  was  declared  "entirely  inconsistent  with  the 
nature  and  design  of  baptism,  as  set  forth  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment." 

6.  The  attention  of  this  General  Conference  was  largely  oc- 
Layrepre-  cupied  with  the  question  of  the  admission  of  lay  dele- 
semation.  gates.  It  was  fully  discussed  in  all  its  bearings,  and 
some  little  acrimony  was  exhibited  ;  yet,  on  the  whole,  the  dis- 
cussion was  calm,  dignified,  and  courteous.  A  committee  of 
conference,  consisting  of  E.  O.  Haven,  D.  Curry,  J.  B.  Dob- 
bins, R.  S.  Foster,  Q.  E.  Fuller,  J.  T.  Peck,  J."  McClintock, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


259 


S.  M.  Merrill, W.  H.  Hunter,  and  C.  Hunger,  was  appointed,  who 
rendered  a  report  which,  after  some  amendment,  was  adopted 
May  29  by  a  vote  of  231  to  3.  It  was  provided  that  certain 
changes  in  the  Discipline  in  the  chapter  on  the  General  Confer- 
ence he  submitted  to  the  action  of  the  Church  at  large.  The 
General  Conference  was  to  he  composed  of  ministerial  and  two 
lay  delegates  from  each  Annual  Conference,  except  from  Con- 
ferences having  only  one  ministerial  delegate,  which  were 
to  have  also  but  one  lay  delegate.  Lay  delegates  were  to  be 
elected  by  an  Electoral  Conference,  composed  of  one  layman 
from  each  charge  within  the  Conference,  such  Electoral  Con- 
ference to  be  held  during  the  session  of  the  Annual  Conference 
next  preceding  that  of  the  General  Conference.  In  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  "the  ministerial  and  lay  delegates  shall  sit  and 
deliberate  together  as  one  body,  but  they  shall  vote  separately 
whenever  such  separate  vote  shall  be  demanded  by  one  third  of 
either  order,  and  in  such  cases  the  concurrent  vote  of  both  or- 
ders shall  be  necessary  to  complete  an  action."  During  the 
month  of  June,  1S69,  the  members  of  the  churches  were  to 
vote  upon  these  changes,  and  at  the  next  session  thereafter  of 
each  Annual  Conference  the  ministers  were  to  vote  upon  a 
corresponding  change  in  the  second  Restrictive  Rule.  In  case 
a  majority  of  church  members,  actually  voting,  should  favor 
the  changes  in  the  Discipline,  and  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
ministers  voting  should  favor  a  change  of  the  Restrictive  Rule, 
the  subject  was  to  come  before  the  next  General  Conference, 
when  a  two-thirds  majority  would  complete  the  change  and  the 
lay  delegates  be  admitted. 

7.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  become  so  large  and 
powerful  that  the  matter  of  filling'  the  General  Conference 
offices  was  attended  with  considerable  excitement. 
Luke  Hitchcock  and  J.  M.  Walden  were  elected 
book  agents  at  Cincinnati,  Thomas  Carlton  and  John  Lanahan 
at  New  York;  Daniel  Curry,  editor  of  Christian  Advocate* 
S.  M.  Merrill,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advocate;  D.  D. 
Whedon,  editor  of  Quarterly  Review  /  I.  W.  Wiley,  editor 
of  Ladies'1  Repository  ;  J.  M.  Reid,  editor  of  North-western 


260 


MANUAL  OF 


Christian  Advocate  ;  S.  H.  Nesbit,  editor  of  Pittsburg  Chris- 
tian  Advocate  •  B.  F.  Crary,  editor  of  Central  Christian  Ad- 
vocate;  D.  D.  Lore,  editor  of  Northern  Christian  Advocate  / 
E.  Thomas,  assistant  book  agent  at  New  York,  to  reside  at 
San  Francisco;  II.  C.  Benson,  editor  of  California  Christian 
Advocate;  Isaac  Dillon,  editor  of  Pacific  C hristian  Advocate ; 
William  Nast,  editor  of  Christian  Apologist /  D.  Wise,  editor 
of  Sunday-School  Advocate  and  library  books ;  and  J.  H.  Yin- 
cent,  editor  of  Sunday -SchoolJournal  and  books  of  instruction. 
J.  P.  Durbin  was  elected  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society,  and  W.  L.  Harris  assistant ;  A.  J.  Kynett  was 
elected  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Church  Extension 
Society. 

8.  There  had  been  heretofore  two  book  committees,  appointed 
from  the  Conferences  contiguous  to  the  two  Book  Concerns. 
Book  com-  ^ow>  however,  it  was  provided  that  there  be  but  one 
mittee.  committee  of  fifteen,  to  have  supervision  over  botli 
Concerns,  said  Book  Committee  to  be  elected  by  the  General 
Conference.  The  two  Concerns  were  regarded  as  the  common 
property  of  the  whole  Church,  and  it  was  not  considered  advis- 
able that  they  be  conducted  in  any  sense  as  competing  publish- 
ing houses. 

9.  There  were  at  the  close  of  the  Conference  seventy-one 

Annual  Conferences  instead  of  fifty-five,  as  at  the 

Con  f  Grcnccs 

opening  of  the  session.  Several  of  these  had  been 
formed  in  the  South  out  of  what  had  been  slave  territory. 
The  Church  authorities  believed  the  open  door  to  the  South- 
land to  be  as  free  to  them  as  to  any  one,  and  they  entered  that 
section,  and,  under  the  direction  of  God,  accomplished  great 
good. 

10.  After  much  deliberation  a  Board  of  Education  was 
Board  of  Edu-  formed,  comprising  both  ministers  and  laymen.  It 
cation.  had  four  objects  in  view:  1)  To  aid  young  men 
preparing  for  missionary  work  in  foreign  fields  ;  2)  To  aid 
young  men  studying  for  the  ministry ;  3)  To  aid  biblical  or 
theological  schools  of  the  Church ;  4)  To  aid  universities, 
colleges,  and  academies  of  the   Church.     The  board  were 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


201 


to  be  consulted  in  the  planting  of  new  institutions  of  learn- 
ing, if  such  schools  were  to  receive  aid  from  the  board.  This 
provision  was  eminently  wise,  since  in  the  planting  and  locating 
of  certain  schools  there  had  been  exhibited  neither  heavenly 
wisdom  nor  worldly  sense.  As  a  result  some  had  never  attained 
much  success,  and  some  had  been  discontinued.  It  became 
a  question  of  the  survival  of  the  fittest;  but  much  valuable 
effort  and  money  were  wasted  in  these  useless  experiments. 

11.  The  General  Conference  of  1864  had  appointed  a  board 
of  trustees  who  should  obtain  a  charter  under  the  incorporation 
laws  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  so  that  the  Church,  as  a  ofthecnurch. 
corporate  body,  might  have  legal  recognition  in  the  courts 
of  all  the  States,  and  that  these  trustees  might  become  the 
lawful  custodians  of  such  property  of  the  Church,  acquired  by 
donation,  bequest,  or  otherwise,  as  could  not  legally  be  held  by 
local  trustees.  Accordingly  the  board  had  been  incorporated 
under  the  name  and  title  of  "  The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States."  Some 
imperfections  having  been  found  in  this  charter  it  was  ordered 
that  a  new  charter  be  obtained,  and  that  the  board  be  re- 
incorporated as  "The  Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church." 

12.  The  General  Conference  adjourned  June  2,  1868.  We 
may  mention  here  that  during  the  General  Conl'er- 

"  °  Adjournment. 

ence  of  1848  at  Pittsburg  there  had  been  published 
a  Daily  Christian  Advocate,  which  had  fully  reported  its  pro- 
ceedings, and  had  contained  the  reports  of  committees,  special 
addresses,  and  such  other  matter  as  might  be  of  interest  to  the 
Conference.  At  the  next  session,  in  1S52,  a  Daily  Ziorfs  Her- 
ald was  published,  at  the  session  in  Boston,  containing  similar 
reports.  Since  that  time  the  Daily  Christian  Advocate  has 
been  quadrennially  issued  at  each  session  of  the  General  Con- 
ference. 

From  1868  to  1872  the  Church  was  unusually  active,  not 
only  in  supporting   and  developing  her  existing 

,  ,       .  .     .  .       .      .  ,  Education. 

schools,  but  also  m  establishing  new  institutions  ot 

learning  both  at  home  and  in  the  missionary  fields.    In  India, 


MANUAL  OF 


in  addition  to  schools  of  lower  grade,  a  theological  school  was 
opened  at  Bareilly,  in  April,  1872,  through  the  liberality  of 
Rev.  D.  W.  Thomas,  one  of  the  missionaries,  who  gave  $20,000 
as  an  endowment.  This  sum  was  much  increased  afterward  by 
benefactions  from  the  United  States.  In  this  school  native 
candidates  for  the  ministry  are  instructed,  not  only  in  the  usual 
theological  studies,  but  also  in  the  Hindu  and  Mohammedan 
philosophies  and  religions,  that  they  may  be  well  equipped  for 
work  in  a  land  where  these  systems  prevail,  and  may  be  quali- 
fied to  battle  against  them.  This  was  soon  followed  by  the 
establishment  of  a  biblical  institute  at  Foochow,  China. 

In  the  newly-opened  Southern  section  of  our  own  country 
the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  did  much  important 
in  the  south.  WQY^  «n  establishing  schools  for  the  education  of  the 
Negro.  Rust  University,  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  and  Claflin 
University,  at  Orangeburg,  S.  C,  the  latter  with  the  Baker 
Theological  Institute,  which  had  been  begun  a  few  years  pre- 
viously at  Charleston,  as  its  theological  department,  were  both 
founded  during  this  quadrennium.  During  the  same  period 
began  the  existence  of  Haven  Normal  Academy,  at  Waynes- 
borough,  Ga.,  and  the  Centenary  Biblical  Institute,  now  Morgan 
College,  at  Baltimore. 

Nor  was  there  less  educational  activity  in  the  West.  In 
California,  in  1870,  was  founded  the  Napa  Collegiate 

In  the  West.     _  7    1  .  .      .  ,  -,T  ~  ,f 

Institute,  which  in  1885  became  JNapa  College. 
Schools  were  established  in  Utah,  in  the  very  heart  of  Mormon- 
ism.  A  German-English  Normal  School,  now  the  German- 
English  College,  was  begun  at  Galena,  111.,  for  the  education  of 
young  men  and  women  of  German  parentage ;  and  a  Swedish 
Theological  Seminary  was  opened  at  Galesburg,  111.,  and  after- 
ward removed  to  the  grounds  of  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute, 
at  Evanston.  Many  other  schools  also  came  into  existence 
during  this  period. 

But  the  crowning  enterprise  of  the  quadrennium  was  the 
Syracuse um-  founding  of  Syracuse  University,  at  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 
versity.  charter  was  obtained  in  1S70,  and  the  first  sessions 

began  in  1871.    It  contains  colleges  of  liberal  arts,  of  medicine, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  263 


and  of  fine  arts,  and  registers  nearly  eight  hundred  students  of 
both  sexes.  It  has  property  valued  at  $800,000  and  an  endow- 
ment of  $700,000.  In  1887  Mrs.  Dr.  J.  M.  Eeid  purchased 
the  library  of  the  celebrated  German  historian,  Leopold  von 
Ranke,  and  presented  it  to  the  university.  Mrs.  Harriet 
Leavenworth  has  also  given  "the  celebrated  Wolff  collection 
of  engravings,  containing  twelve  thousand  sheets  of  rare  and 
costly  engravings,  representing  the  great  masters  of  the  art  in 
all  ages."  The  chancellors  of  the  university  have  been  the  late 
Alexander  Winchell,  the  eminent  geologist ;  Dr.  E.  ().  Haven, 
formerly  president  of  Michigan  and  North-western  Universities, 
and  afterward  bishop;  and  the  present  chancellor,  Charles  N". 
Sims,  D.D.,  LL.D. 

Bishop  Thomson,  while  engaged  in  attending  the  West  Vir- 
ginia Conference  in  the  spring  of  1870,  was  seized  Death  o£  Bish. 
with  pneumonia,  and  died  at  Wheeling,  W.  Va.,  op  Thomson. 
March  22,  1870.  Bishop  Thomson  was  a  remarkable  man  in 
many  ways — as  a  teacher,  preacher,  college  president,  editor, 
and  writer.  He  was  born  in  Portsea,  England,  October  12, 
1810.  The  family  removed  to  America  in  1818.  On  the  sea 
their  ship  was  captured  by  a  pirate  vessel,  but  was  allowed  to 
continue  her  voyage.  The  family  settled  at  Wooster,  O. 
Young  Thomson  graduated  in  medicine  at  the  Pennsylvania 
Medical  College;  but  in  1831  he  was  converted,  and  united 
with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  although  his  parents 
were  Baptists  and  being  moved  to  preach,  entered  the  Ohio 
Conference  in  1832.  In  1838  he  became  principal  of  Nor  walk 
Seminary  ;  in  1844,  editor  of  the  Ladies'  Repository ;  and  in 
1846  he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  the  Ohio  Wesleyan 
University,  having  declined  an  offer  to  become  the  first  presi- 
dent of  Michigan  University.  In  18G0  he  was  elected  editor  of 
the  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal,  which  he  conducted 
with  rare  ability,  and  the  power  of  his  pen  was  felt  through  the 
Church.  In  1864  he  was  elected  a  bishop,  and  "began  his 
closing  career  by  going  as  first  of  his  colleagues  round  the 
world  to  look  with  his  seer-like  eyes  upon  the  great  parish  of 
John  Wesley."    As  a  writer,  few  excelled  him.    "His  style 


264 


MANUAL  OF 


was  clear,  classical,  and  beautiful."  He  has  been  called  the 
Addison  of  Methodism. 

AY  hen  it  was  flashed  over  the  wires  in  1870  that  Bishop 
Death  of  Bish-  Kingsiey  had  died  the  day  before  in  Bey  root,  Syria, 
op  Kingsiey.  tiie  Church  could  hardly  realize  that  he  was  dead 
— he,  the  youngest  and  most  robust  of  the  bishops,  who  had 
always  looked  the  very  picture  of  health.  But  the  strong  man 
had  fallen,  though  not  ingloriously,  while  still  in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight.  Bishop  Kingsiey  was  a  native  of  New  York, 
being  born  at  Annsville,  Oneida  County,  September  8,  1812. 
"When  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was  converted.  A  thirst  for 
learning  seemed  to  consume  him.  Poverty,  however,  pre- 
vented him  from  acquiring  a  thorough  education  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  Allegheny  Col- 
lege, and  partly  paid  by  his  own  labor  his  way  through  that 
institution.  He  graduated  in  1841,  and  was  at  once  chosen  a 
professor  in  his  alma  mater,  and  joined  the  Erie  Conference. 
In  1856  he  was  elected  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate. 
In  the  General  Conference  of  I860  he  was  recognized  as  the 
leader  of  the  antislavery  movement.  The  report  on  the  subject  of 
slavery  was  written  by  him,  and  is  a  paper  of  remarkable  power. 
In  1864  he  was  elected  a  bishop.  In  1869  he  was  appointed  to 
visit  the  missions  in  China  and  India.  He  accomplished  this 
work  with  great  acceptability.  On  his  return  trip  to  Europe  he 
turned  aside  to  visit  the  Holy  Land.  The  tour  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  he  had  reached  Beyroot  and  was  preparing  to  sail 
for  Constantinople.  "  On  the  morning  of  April  6,  1870,  about 
to  sail,  he  arose  in  good  health,  and  with  Bev.  Dr.  Bannister, 
of  the  Garrett  Biblical  Institute,  who  was  then  in  Beyroot,  he 
ascended  the  house-top  to  enjoy  a  view  of  the  snowy  heights"  of 
Lebanon.  After  breakfast  he  was  seized  with  neuralgic  pain 
in  the  left  breast,  and  in  a  few  minutes  fell  to  the  floor,  and, 
though  immediately  lifted  to  his  bed,  his  heart  and  pulse  were 
still."  He  was  buried  at  Beyroot,  and  American  Methodists 
have  erected  a  suitable  monument  over  his  grave.  Bishop 
Kingsiey  was  a  clear  writer,  a  strong  and  powerful  preacher, 
and  a  master  on  the  platform.   He  was  outspoken  in  the  defense 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  265 


of  doctrinal  Methodism.  "His  executive  power  was  of  a 
superior  order,  and  each  successive  year  his  talents  were  un- 
folding. The  Church  expected  him  to  live  long,  and  to  be  a 
prince  among  his  associates." 

The  Church  was  afflicted  at  this  time  by  the  loss  of  an  unus- 
ual number  of  her  chief  ministers.  Bishop  Clark  died  Deathof  iMsh- 
at  Cincinnati,  O.,  May  23,  1871.  He  was  born  at  °pciiu*. 
Mount  Desert,  off  the  coast  of  Maine,  February  25,  1812.  He 
was  converted  when  a  boy  ;  graduated  at  Wesleyan  University 
in  1843;  became  a  member  of  the  New  York  Conference;  was 
made  editor  of  the  Ladled  Repository  in  1852  ;  and  elected  a 
bishop  in  1804.  In  his  episcopal  labors  he  was  abundant,  giving 
especial  attention  to  the  reorganization  of  the  work  in  the  South 
after  the  clouds  of  civil  war  passed  away.  His  health  remained 
good  till  the  spring  of  1870 ;  then  his  system  began  to  fail  rap- 
idly. As  fall  approached  he  rallied  somewhat,  and  presided 
at  his  Conferences.  He  opened  the  New  York  Conference  at 
Peekskill,  April  6,  1871.  The  Lord's  Supper  was  adminis- 
tered, "  followed  with  a  brief  but  very  affecting  address,  in 
which  he  referred,  in  very  affectionate  terms,  to  his  original 
Conference  home,  and  associates."  He  then  called  Bishop 
Simpson  to  the  chair  and  retired,  never  again  to  enter  a  Con- 
ference. He  was  taken  to  his  home  in  Cincinnati,  and  lingered 
until  May,  when  death  relieved  his  sufferings  and  took  him 
heavenward.  Bishop  Clark  was  a  scholarly  and  Christian  gen- 
tleman. In  his  editorial  work  he  achieved  marked  success, 
lie  also  published  several  valuable  w^orks,  such  as  Mental  Dis- 
cipline, Elements  of  Algebra,  Lfe  and  Times  of  Bishop 
Iledding,  and  Man  All  Immortal.  These  evinced  great  re- 
search, care  in  preparation,  and  painstaking  in  construction. 
His  Mental  Discipline  and  Man  All  Immortal  are  standard 
works.  Until  after  his  election  to  the  episcopacy  Bishop  Clark 
confined  himself  in  the  pulpit  very  closely  to  the  manuscript. 
His  sermons  were  finished,  thoughtful,  and  accompanied  with 
power;  and  he  preached  with  increased  effectiveness  when, 
in  his  later  life,  he  adopted  the  habit  of  extemporaneous 
speaking. 


266 


MANUAL  OF 


At  the  General  Conference  in  1868  Bishop  Baker  was  known 
Death  of  Bish-  *°  ^e  *n  ^P^red  health.  It  was  a  question  whether 
op  Baker.  he  would  be  able  to  do  any  effective  service  during 
the  quadrennium.  Some  were  of  the  opinion  there  ought  to 
be  a  re-enforcement  of  the  episcopacy.  Says  Bishop  Simpson : 
"  The  majority  of  the  bishops  in  1808  desired  an  increase  in  the 
episcopal  board,  but  the  opponents  of  lay  delegation  earnestly 
opposed  such  increase,  alleging  that  the  majority  of  that  Con- 
ference was  accidentally  in  favor  of  lay  delegation,  and  that  no 
bishop  ought  to  be  chosen  until  the  sense  of  the  Church  on  that 
measure  had  been  decided."  *  Bishop  Baker  had  been  attacked 
with  partial  paralysis  while  on  the  way  to  attend  the  Colorado 
Conference  in  1866.  He  continued  in  a  feeble  state  until 
December  8,  1871,  when  the  fatal  stroke  came.  A  few  days 
later  lie  died,  December  20,  1871. 

Bishop  Baker  was  born  in  Marlow,  X.  II.,  July  30,  1812. 
He  was  educated  at  Wilbraham  Academy.  While  there  he 
was  converted,  and  Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  received  him  into  the 
Church.  He  entered  Wesleyan  University  in  1830,  and  re- 
mained three  years.  Just  as  he  was  entering  the  senior  year 
sickness  came,  and  he  was  compelled  to  relinquish  all  thought 
of  graduating.  At  the  university  he  was  licensed  to  preach. 
He  afterward  taught  at  Xewbury  Seminary  in  Vermont  and 
became  its  principal.  He  then  entered  the  itinerancy,  was 
presiding  elder  of  the  Dover  District  of  the  Xew  Hampshire 
Conference,  and  in  1847  became  a  professor  in  the  Concord 
Biblical  Institute.  In  1852  he  was  elected  a  bishop.  The 
memoir  in  the  General  Minutes  for  1872  thus  speaks  of  him  : 
"  In  estimating  his  abilities  and  character  prominence  must  be 
given  to  their  regularity  and  symmetry.  JSio  faculty  of  his  in- 
tellect was  conspicuous  for  either  its  strength  or  its  weakness. 
His  temperament  wras  even  and  quiet.  With  readiness  of  ap- 
prehension, soundness  of  judgment,  retentiveness  of  memory, 
and  a  somewhat  deficient  imagination,  he  combined  calmness, 
gentleness,  simplicity  of  purpose,  firm  religious  convictions, 
and  an  all-controlling  conscientiousness.  He  did  nothing  osten- 

*  Simpson's  Hundred  Years  of  Methodism,  p.  188. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHUIiCII  HISTORY.  2G7 


tatiously  or  impetuously  or  with  eccentricity.  As  a  teacher 
he  was  assiduous,  full  of  material,  and  clear.  As  a  preacher 
he  ascended  no  lofty  height  of  eloquence,  but  in  well-chosen 
words,  with  a  persuasive  manner,  and  often  with  a  divine 
unction,  he  unfolded  the  testimony  of  the  word.  As  a  bishop 
he  was  painstaking,  impartial,  judicious,  and  his  administration 
was  marked  by  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  constitution  and 
laws  of  the  Church.  His  work  on  the  Discipline  displays  all 
these  characteristics  in  an  eminent  degree." 

Dr.  Heman  Bangs,  for  fifty-four  years  a  minister,  and  a  well- 
known  character  in  Methodism,  who  had  been  asso-  ^  ^ 
ciated  with  most  of  the  important  movements  in  the 
Church  for  forty-five  years,  passed  away  November  2,  1869. 
John  McClintock,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  a  man  of  versatile  talents,  of 
strong  character,  a  professor  of  eminent  teachiitg  ability,  a  writer 
of  Latin  and  Greek  text-books,  co-translator  of  Keander's  Life 
of  Christ,  editor  of  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  fraternal 
delegate  to  the  British  Wesley  an  Conference,  editor,  with  Dr. 
Strong,  of  the  Cyclopedia  of  Biblical,  Theological,  and  Eccle- 
siastical Literature,  and  president  of  Drew  Theological  Semi- 
nary, died  at  Madison,  K  J.,  March  4,  1870.  Charles  Elliott, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  was  an  Irishman,  warm-hearted,  intense,  ever 
ready  to  defend  Christianity.  lie  was  converted  in  1811,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1814,  was  admitted  to  the  Ohio  Confer- 
ence in  1818,  became  missionary  to  the  Wyandotte  Indians  in 
1822,  and  professor  in  Madison  College  in  1827.  He  served  with 
much  ability  as  editor  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate, 
editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate,  president  of  the 
Iowa  Wesleyan  University,  and  editor  of  the  Central  Christian 
Advocate.  Nine  times  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  General  Con- 
ference, lie  died  at  Mount  Pleasant,  la.,  January  G,  18G9. 
As  a  writer  he  was  clear  and  strong,  using  few  superfluous 
wrords,  and  leaving  little  ambiguity  in  his  sentences.  He  was 
the  author  of  the  History  of  the  Great  Secession,  Delineation  of 
Roman  Catholicism,  and  South-western  Methodism.  One  of 
the  desires  of  his  heart  was  to  see  a  great  spiritual  revival  in 
Roman  Catholic  countries. 


268 


MANUAL  OF 


The  General  Conference  of  1868  appointed  a  commission  to 
New  York  purchase  property  in  New  York  more  centrally 
andkCMi^ion  l°cate(l  better  adapted  to  the  needs  of  the 

Rooms.  Book  Concern  and  the  Missionary  Society  than  the 
premises  then  occupied.  E.  L.  Fancher,  Thomas  Carlton,  J. 
P.  Dnrbin,  W.  W.  Cornell,  Daniel  Carry,  W.  L.  Harris,  A.  V. 
Stout,  John  McClintock,  George  I.  Seney,  Daniel  Drew,  Oliver 
Hoyt,  Cornelius  Walsh,  and  Harold  Dollner  constituted  the 
commission.  The  Missionary  Society  also  appointed  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  II.  J.  Baker,  II.  M.  Forrester,  Stephen 
Crowell,  Isaac  Odell,  J.  H.  Taft,  S.  D.  Brown,  and  M.  D'C. 
Crawford,  to  co-operate  with  the  commission.  The  old  quar- 
ters at  200  Mulberry  Street,  which  had  been  occupied  for  more 
than  thirty  years,  were  still  retained  as  a  printing-office  and 
bindery  ;  but  in  1SG9  the  commission  purchased,  for  8900,000, 
a  building  known  as  805  Broadway,  which  for  twenty  years 
furnished  •accommodations  for  the  salesrooms,  agents,  editorial 
and  other  offices  connected  with  the  Book  Concern,  and  for  the 
Missionary  Society  and  other  connectional  interests  of  the 
Church.    This  building  was  occupied  in  1869. 

During  the  month  of  June,  1869,  the  members  of  the  Church 
Lay  deiega-  voted  upon  the  question  whether  lay  delegates  should 
tion-  be  admitted  to  the  General  Conference.    Of  those 

voting  a  majority  of  more  than  two  to  one  was  in  favor  of  their 
admission.  The  object  of  this  vote  was  to  discover  the  opinion 
of  the  Church  at  large.  But  before  the  change  could  be  made 
constitutionally  it  was  necessary  that  a  two-thirds  majority  of 
the  members  of  the  Annual  Conferences  actually  voting  should 
also  favor  it.  The  Conferences  voted  during  18B9  and  1870, 
and  approved  the  change  by  the  requisite  majority. 

At  the  close  of  the  qnadrennium  there  were  10,212  traveling 
preachers — an  increase  of  1,759  in  four  years ;  11,961 

Statistics. 

local  preachers — an  increase  of  2,065 ;  and  1,458,111 
church  members — an  increase  of  203,326. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CIIUIICII  HISTORY.  200 


PERIOD  V. 

THE  TWO  ORDERS.  1872-1892. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OP  1872.    EVENTS  OF  THE  QtJADRENNIUM, 

1872-76. 

The  sixteenth  delegated  and  twenty-second  General  Confer- 
ence met  in  the  Academy  of  Music,  Brooklyn,  N".  Y.,  May  1, 
1S72.  This  was  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  history  of 
Methodism  since  1844,  for  a  new  departure  was  made  in  the 
constitution  of  the  General  Conference  by  the  admission  of  lay- 
men on  equal  terms  with  the  ministerial  delegates.  This  marks 
an  era  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Five  bishops  were 
present,  namely,  Morris,  Janes,  Scott,  Simpson,  and  Ames. 
Bishop  Morris  was  in  very  feeble  health,  and  the  burden  of  the 
work  fell  upon  the  other  bishops.  At  the  opening  of  the 
session  there  were  present  292  ministerial  delegates  ;  but  when 
the  lay  delegates,  129  in  number,  were  admitted,  the  total 
number  of  delegates  was  increased  to  421 — a  large  body  for 
legislative  purposes.    William  L.  Harris  was  elected  secretary. 

1.  As  soon  as  the  Conference  was  organized  Bishop  Simpson 
declared  the  result  of  the  vote  of  the  Annual  Con-  Tott  „a„  a 

Lay  repre- 

ferences  upon  the  proposed  change  in  the  second  sentatives  ad- 
Restrictive  Rule  providing  for  the  introduction  of  lay 
delegates.  It  was  found  that  4,915  voted  for  the  change  and 
1,597  against  it,  which  was  more  than  the  two-thirds  majority 
required  before  any  change  in  the  Restrictive  Rules  could  con- 
stitutionally be  made.  The  following  resolution  was  then 
introduced :  "  Resolved,  That  this  General  Conference  does 
hereby  concur  with  the  Annual  Conferences  in  changing  the 
second  Restrictive  Rule,  so  as  to  read  as  follows :  '  They  shall 


270 


MANUAL  OF 


not  allow  of  more  than  one  ministerial  representative  for  every 
fourteen  members  of  an  Annual  Conference,  nor  allow  of  less 
than  one  for  every  forty-five,  nor  more  than  two  lay  delegates 
for  any  Annual  Conference.'"  This  was  passed  by  a  vote  <»f 
2S3  to  6.  The  plan  proposed  in  1868  for  the  introduction  of 
lay  delegates  into  the  General  Conference  was  then  ratified  by 
a  vote  of  252  for  and  36  against.  The  lay  delegates  were 
called  by  Conferences,  and  admitted  to  seats  in  the  different 
delegations,  and  the  wheels  of  Methodism  rolled  on  without  jar 
or  noticeable  friction. 

Laymen's  ad-  The  lay  delegates,  upon  taking  their  seats,  presented 
dress.  t])e  following  address  to  the  General  Conference, 

through  their  chairman,  Dr.  James  Strong : 

"  Dear  Brethren  :  An  occasion  so  memorable  as  this,  which 
brings  together  for  the  first  time  in  the  select  council  of  our 
beloved  Zion  the  clerical  and  lay  elements  by  direct  representa- 
tion, calls  for  more  than  a  passing  interchange  of  views  or 
feelings.  It  is  fitting  that  we,  the  lay  delegates,  especially 
should  formally  recognize  the  gravity  and  responsibility  of  the 
hour,  and  the  train  of  Divine  Providence,  as  well  as  of  eccle- 
siastical adjustment,  that  has  led  to  it.  We  desire,  therefore, 
to  respond  to  the  summons  which  invites  us  to  share  in  your 
deliberations  and  decisions  by  an  expression  at  once  of  our  ap- 
preciation of  the  privilege  and  of  our  sentiment  in  accepting  it, 
and  to  do  so  in  a  manner  appropriate  for  permanent  record. 

"First  of  all  we  devoutly  thank  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  for  the  eminent  degree  of  harmony  and  brotherly  love 
that  has  characterized  the  movement  in  favor  of  May  delega- 
tion' which  has  thus  happily  been  consummated.  Rarely,  if 
ever,  has  history  chronicled  so  fundamental  a  change  in  church 
polity  effected  with  so  little  of  acrimonious  controversy  ;  seldom 
or  never  before  has  the  world  seen  a  voluntary  surrender  of 
power  by  any  body  of  men  long  possessed  of  it  by  constitu- 
tional right ;  and  not  oftea  has  there  been  known  such  modesty 
in  acquiring  it  as  our  laity  have  generally  exhibited.  It  has 
frequently  been  alleged  that  Methodism  exhibits  in  her  form  of 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  271 


government  some  features  of  usurpation  and  despotism  ;  we 
may  now  mutually  congratulate  ourselves  upon  this  signal  refu- 
tation of  the  calumny. 

"In  the  second  place,  in  behalf  of  the  lay  portion  of  our 
Church,  thus  called  upon  to  assume  the  gravest  obligations,  we 
invoke  the  gracious  assistance  of  our  heavenly  Father,  that  we 
may  so  engage  in  and  discharge  the  important  duties  imposed 
upon  us  as  to  meet  the  divine  approval  and  secure  the  greatest 
good  of  the  Church  at  large.  We  feel  that  an  assuming  spirit 
would  be  in  the  highest  degree  unbecoming  those  who  enter 
for  the  first  time  upon  a  share  of  authority  thus  deferentially 
ceded  to  them  by  their  colleagues ;  and  we  hope  to  prove,  by  a 
cordial  and  judicious  co-operation  with  our  ministerial  brethren 
in  this  new  relation,  that  their  confidence,  and  that  of  those 
who  have  sent  us  hither,  is  not  misplaced. 

"Thirdly,  we  would  deprecate  any  separation  of  the  so-called 
temporal  and  spiritual  powers  of  this  joint  body  as  between  its 
lay  and  its  clerical  members.  While  we  recognize  the  peculiar 
functions  of  the  ministry  in  the  pulpit  and  the  pastorate,  their 
exclusive  right,  as  a  rule  of  ecclesiastical  order,  to  administer 
the  wrord  of  God  and  the  sacraments  of  the  Church  ;  and  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  we  equally  acknowledge  as  the  special 
charge  of  the  laity,  in  the  pew  and  the  community,  to  maintain 
the  pecuniary  interests  of  our  Zion  and  to  be  the  custodians  of 
its  church  property ;  yet,  as  delegates  here  assembled,  we  con- 
ceive, and  suppose  it  to  be  conceded,  that  we  all  have  a  common 
and  equal  interest  and  obligation  in  every  question  that  may 
come  before  the  Conference  for  discussion  and  determination. 
Bishops,  people,  and  preachers  are,  in  our  economy  at  least,  the 
elementary  constituents  of  the  one  body  of  Christ,  and  what- 
ever affects  either  of  these  three  elements  truly  and  sensibly 
concerns  all  the  rest.  Whether,  therefore,  we  meet  here  as 
presiding  officers  or  as  members  consulting  together,  and  finally 
voting  either  promiscuously,  or,  if  it  becomes  requisite  for  a 
due  balance  of  members,  by  separate  count,  we  trust  that  no 
schism  shall  be  made  in  this  regard.  So  only  can  we  achieve 
the  entire  benefit  of  the  maxim  that  Union  is  strength. 


272 


MANUAL  OF 


"  Lastly,  we  do  not  enter  this  body  to  propose  any  sudden  or 
radical  change  in  the  practical  machinery  of  our  Church.  Hap- 
pily, we  see  no  tendency  among  us  to  any  considerable  diver- 
gence on  doctrinal  questions.  We  hope  that  no  hasty  or  serious 
experiments  will.be  made  in  our  ministerial  policy.  We  should 
especially  regret  to  find  the  introduction  of  the  lay  element  into 
our  councils  made  the  occasion  of  materially  modifying  the 
functions  or  contracting  the  sphere  of  the  clergy,  whether 
bishops,  elders,  or  pastors.  We  laymen,  as  being  compara- 
tively inexperienced  in  our  present  capacity,  must  naturally  be 
expected  to  feel  our  way  cautiously  along  if  we  would  tread 
securely  and  advantageously  in  the  exercise  of  our  new  powers. 
At  the  same  time  we  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as  standing 
committed  against  any  advance  in  any  legitimate  and  prudent 
direction,  nor  in  favor  of  any  state  of  things  merely  on  account 
of  its  antiquity.  Whatever  measures  have  proved  themselves  in 
time  past  to  be  wise  and  useful  we  would  retain  if  they  still 
continue  efficient,  or  restore  to  their  former  usefulness  if  they 
have  in  any  way  or  degree  unnecessarily  lost  it ;  and  any 
modes  of  operation  which  experience  may  have  shown  to  be 
erroneous  or  defective,  or  which  altered  circumstances  may 
have  rendered  practically  obsolete  and  inapposite,  we  would 
freely — but  gradually  and  not  violently — exchange  for  sounder 
and  more  improved  ones.  In  short,  we  profess  ourselves  at 
once  conservative  in  principle  and  progressive  in  action,  thor- 
oughly true  to  that  Methodism  which  has  ever  followed  the 
guidance  of  Providence — the  same  always  and  every- where  in 
spirit — but  able  to  adapt  itself  in  form  to  the  varying  exigencies 
of  time  and  place.  We  recognize  its  one  grand  aim  still  to  be  to 
'  spread  scriptural  holiness  over  these  lands,'  and  we  trust  that 
from  this  hour  it  shall  receive  a  fresh  impulse  in  its  mission 
throughout  the  globe." 

2.  There  were  elected  eight  new  bishops  :  Thomas  Bowman, 
Bishops  William  L.  Harris,  Randolph  S.  Foster,  Isaac  W. 
elected.  Wiley,  Stephen  M.  Merrill,  Edward  Gr.  Andrews, 
Gilbert  Haven,  and  Jesse  T.  Peck.    They  were  consecrated 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  273 


to  this  high  office  by  the  imposition  of  the  hands  of  the  bishops 
and  of  assisting  elders  in  the  presence  of  the  General  Conference 
and  as  large  an  audience  as  could  crowd  into  the  Academy  of 
Music.  It  was  an  imposing  scene,  without  any  of  the  ostenta- 
tion and  show  of  high  church  ritualism. 

3.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  was  organized  March  22,  woman's 
1869,  at  Boston,  Mass.  It  originated  with  Mrs.  JJJJJjy 
Kev.  E.  W.  Parker  and  Mrs.  Dr.  William  Butler,  ety. 
These  ladies  had  spent  some  years  in  India,  and  they  were 
familiar  "  with  the  needs  of  the  women  of  the  East,  and  realized 
that  no  spiritual  help  could  reach  them  through  the  instru- 
mentality of  male  missionaries.  The  strict  habits  of  seclusion 
practiced  by  the  wives,  mothers,  and  daughters  of  Asia,  pre- 
cluded the  entrance  of  any  influence  from  the  Christian  men 
whom  the  Church  had  sent  to  do  its  work."  A  number-  of 
Boston  ladies  determined  to  prosecute  missionary  work  among 
these  heathen  women,  and  a  society  was  formed  which  was 
soon  extended  throughout  the  Church.  At  this  General  Con- 
ference it  wras  recognized  as  one  of  the  official  institutions 
of  the  Church,  and  the  Annual  Conferences  were  instructed  to 
publish  in  their  Minutes  reports  of  the  moneys  raised  by  its 
efforts.  It  was  thought  advisable,  however,  that  the  parent 
missionary  board  should  hold  in  trust  all  real  estate  acquired 
by  the  AY  Oman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  in  foreign,  coun- 
tries. It  was  at  first  feared  that  the  new  movement  would 
cause  a  decrease  in  the  contributions  to  the  parent  society,  but 
time  has  proved  the  contrary.  This  society  has  done  much 
important  educational,  medical,  and  religious  work  among 
women  in  foreign  lands ;  has  distributed  to  the  Church  a  large 
amount  of  printed  information  concerning  missions,  and  pub- 
lishes three  periodicals — The  Heathen  Woman's  Friend,  Der 
IIciden-Frauen  Freund,  and  the  Heathen  Children's  Friend — 
which  are  filled  with  intelligence  from  all  quarters  of  the  globe. 

4.  The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  was  also  recog-  rreedmen's 

nized  at  this  time  as  a  regularly  constituted  society  of    Aid  Society- 

the  Church,  and  its  head  quarters  fixed  at  Cincinnati.    It  was  to 
19 


274 


MANUAL  OF 


direct  its  efforts  to  "the  education  and  special  aid  of  freedmen 
and  others,  especially  in  co-operation  with  the  Missionary  and 
Church  Extension  Societies." 

5.  For  twenty-two  years  Dr.  Durbin  had  been  corresponding 
Dr.Durbin  secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society,  and  had  faitli- 
sZ™yl<St  fullJ  discharged  the  duties  of  his  office.  He  now 
tary.  retired,  and  younger  hands  took  up  the  work.  In 
testimony  of  the  high  appreciation  in  which  the  General  Con- 
ference held  Dr.  Durbin,  its  members  adopted  complimentary 
resolution?,  and  elected  him  honorary  secretary  of  the  Mission- 
ary Society. 

6.  In  1870  Abel  Minard,  of  Morristown,  IS".  J.,  deeded  to 
The  Minard  Bishop  Janes  a  house  and  lot  valued  at  §50,000,  to 
Home.  "be  held  in  trust,  "  as  a  home  for  female  children 
of  foreign  missionaries  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church," 
and  "  for  female  orphans  and  half  orphans  who  are  or  shall  be 
children  of  ministers  of  said  Church,  and  for  such  other  female 
orphans  and  half  orphans  as  the  trustees  may  select  and  desig- 
nate," who  "  are  or  shall  be  without  means  or  provision  for 
their  support."  A  charter  was  obtained  from  the  Legislature  of 
New  Jersey.  The  General  Conference  accepted  the  institution 
and  commended  it  to  the  generosity  of  the  Church,  but  it  was 
not  successful,  and  was  discontinued  in  1876. 

7.  The  National  Local  Preachers'  Association  presented  a  me- 
morial asking  that  District  Conferences  be  established  and  pro- 
District  con-  posing  a  plan  for  their  constitution.  "With  a  few 
ferences.  modifications  this  plan  was  adopted  by  the  General 
Conference,  and,  though  it  has  since  been  somewhat  amended,  is 
es-entially  the  plan  which  is  stiil  in  force.  In  any  district 
where  a  majority  of  the  Quarterly  Conferences  should  so  desire 
a  District  Conference  was  to  be  established.  It  was  to  meet 
twice  each  year,  and  to  be  composed  of  the  traveling  and  local 
preachers,  district  stewards,  and  Sunday-school  superintendents, 
with  the  presiding  elder  as  president,  or,  in  his  absence,  an 
elder  chosen  by  the  Conference.  It  was  to  have  a  general 
oversight  of  the  temporal  and  spiritual  affairs  of  the  district; 
to  exercise  complete  control  over  the  local  preachers  and  ex- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


275 


liortcrs ;  to  see  that  proper  attention  be  paid  in  all  charges  to 
the  taking  up  of  the  collections  required  by  the  Discipline  ;  to 
inquire  into  the  condition  of  the  Sunday-schools,  and  to  dis- 
cover "  opportunities  for  missionary  and  church  extension 
enterprises  within  the  district,  and  take  all  necessary  action 
therefor."  In  such  districts  as  should  establish  such  Con- 
ferences the  powers  thus  delegated  should  no  longer  be  exer- 
cised by  the  Quarterly  Conferences.  Hardly  half  the  districts 
established  these  District  Conferences  ;  but  the  plan,  as  adopted 
at  this  General  Conference  and  since  amended,  has  been  pro- 
ductive of  much  good  wherever  fully  and  judiciously  tried. 

8.  There  were  at  the  close  of  the  General  Confer- 

Conferences. 

ence  seventy-six  Annual  Conferences,  and  four  addi- 
tional Conferences  were  formed  during  the  following  quad- 
rennium. 

9.  The  address  of  the  bishops  was  remarkably  short,  but  it 
was  comprehensive.  They  reported  a  large  increase  Bishopg.  a(Jr 
in  church  membership.  The  spiritual  condition,  drass. 
also,  of  the  Church  was  never  more  encouraging.  The  num- 
ber of  churches  in  1871  was  13,440 — an  increase  of  2,319  in 
four  years;  and  their  value  $50,911,900 — an  increase  of  nearly 
sixty  per  cent.  There  were  4,309  parsonages,  valued  at 
$7,786,804.  This  property  had  been  acquired  under  the  free 
church  system,  and  not  by  a  united  Church  and  State,  as  found 
in  Europe.  The  bishops  testified  their  gratification  at  the  large 
increase  in  the  collections  for  the  relief  of  aged  and  needy 
ministers  and  of  the  widows  and  orphans  of  such  ministers, 
and  urged  still  further  attention  to  the  subject.  They  reported 
the  work  of  Bishop  Kingsley  in  his  uncompleted  journey 
around  the  world.  They  dwelt  upon  the  combined  and  per- 
sistent efforts  of  Romish  bishops  and  priests  to  destroy  our 
common  school  system,  and  the  imperative  duty  for  "all  intel- 
ligent Christians  and  all  true  patriots  to  cherish  the  free  insti- 
tutions bequeathed  to  us  by  our  Protestant  forefathers."  And 
they  alluded  to  the  death  of  their  colleagues,  Bishops  Thomson, 
Kingsley,  Clark,  and  Baker,  whose  memory  would  long  linger 
"  within  the  Church  and  around  its  altars." 


270 


MANUAL  OF 


10.  Pevs.  William  Arthur  and  George  T.  Perks  had  been 
Fraternal  appointed  by  the  British  Conference  as  fraternal 
delegates.  delegates  ;  but  both  gentlemen  were  prevented  from 
visiting  the  United  States,  and  Revs.  Luke  H.  Wiseman  and 
William  M.  Punshon  were  sent  instead.  Pev.  Joseph  W. 
McKay  represented  the  Irish  Wesleyan  Conference,  and  de- 
scribed the  advance  of  Methodism  in  Ireland  and  its  struggle 
with  the  Poinish  priests.  From  the  Wesleyan  Methodist 
Church  in  Canada  came  Pev.  George  P.  Sanderson  and  Pev. 
Alexander  Sutherland.  Pev.  Henry  Pope,  Jr.,  represented 
the  Conference  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  in  Eastern 
British  America.  Pevs.  E.  A.  Wheat,  C.  H.  Williams,  and  H. 
Stackhouse,  and  Mr.  J.  B.  Hamilton  represented  the  Methodist 
Church — a  body  chiefly  composed  of  persons  who  had  seceded 
from  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  on  account  of  their 
strong  antislavery  sentiments.  Slavery  having  been  abolished, 
the  two  bodies  were  now  considering  the  question  of  reunion, 
which  was  brought  about  in  1877.  Pev.  Joseph  Wild.  D.D., 
and  Pev.  Michael  Benson  represented  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  Canada ;  Pev.  John  J.  Murray,  D.D.,  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church  ;  Pevs.  P.  Dubbs  and  T.  Bowman,  after- 
ward bishops  in  that  Church,  the  Evangelical  Association.  The 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  African  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Zion  Churches  sent  addresses.  Several  non-Methodistic 
Churches  also  sent  representatives.  Dr.  Howard  Crosby  ap- 
peared from  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
Dr.  George  B.  Bacon  from  the  National  Council  of  Congrega- 
tional Churches,  and  Drs.  A.  D.  Gillette  and  L.  A.  Dunn  from 
the  American  Baptist  Home  Missionary  Society. 

11.  In  1SG8  Thomas  Carlton  was  re-elected  agent  and  John 
^  .      Lanahan  was  elected  assistant  agent  of  the  Book 

Nevv  Vork  o 

Book  con-  Concern  at  New  York.  It  was  supposed  that  all 
things  were  moving  in  perfect  order  and  harmony 
at  the  Concern  until  September  21,  I860,  when  an  article  ap- 
peared in  the  New  York  Times  entitled  "A  Painful  Revela- 
tion." "We  are  credibly  assured,"  the  article  said,  "  that  the 
new  agent  of  the  Methodist  Book  Concern,  Pev.  Dr.  Lanahan, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


277 


has  discovered  in  that  establishment  great  corruption  and  fraud, 
involving  losses  to  the  amount  of  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars."  The  book  committee  and  the  bishops  instituted  a 
careful  investigation,  and  engaged  an  expert  to  examine  the 
book-keeping  and  business  methods  of  the  Concern.  When 
the  General  Conference  met  the  whole  matter  was  submitted 
to  a  special  committee.  This  committee  listened  to  the  charges, 
statements,  and  counter-charges  and  statements,  and  thoroughly 
examined  the  books,  accounts,  modes  of  transacting  business, 
and  the  relations  of  the  agents  to  each  other.  They  reported 
that  one  employee  had  abused  his  trust,  though  not  to  a  con- 
siderable amount,  and  that  certain  irregularities  had  existed ; 
but  that  the  losses  had  not  been  "of  such  magnitude  as  to  en- 
danger the  financial  strength  of  the  Concern  nor  to  materially 
impair  its  capital,"  and  that  there  were  "no  reasonable  grounds 
or  proofs  to  justify  an  assumption  that  any  agent  or  assistant 
agent  is  or  has  been  implicated  or  interested  in  any  frauds 
which  have  been  practiced  on  the  Book  Concern."  This  report 
was  adopted  by  the  Conference. 

12.  The  Committee  on  the  Book  Concern  also  made  a 
report,  which  was  adopted.  They  recommended  Report  of 
various  changes  in  the  business  methods  of  the  two  the  book  com- 

_  -»  tr  i  mittee. 

Concerns.  Instead  of  one  agent  and  one  assistant 
agent  as  heretofore,  there  were  hereafter  to  be  two  agents  at 
each  Concern,  who  should  be  equal  in  authority  and  responsi- 
bility. The  General  Conference  of  18G8  had  ordered  that  the 
General  Book  Committee  be  chosen,  one  from  each  of  the  fif- 
teen General  Conference  districts.  At  this  General  Conference 
the  number  of  districts  was  reduced  to  twelve  (though  since 
raised  to  fourteen),  and  there  were  added  to  the  general  com- 
mittee two  local  sub-committees — one  consisting  of  three  lay- 
men from  !N"ew  York  or  vicinity,  the  other  of  three  laymen 
from  Cincinnati  or  vicinity.  The  committee,  thus  composed 
of  eighteen  members,  was  to  be  divided  into  two  sections  of 
nine  members  each,  the  eastern  section  to  have  special  super- 
vision over  the  affairs  of  the  New  York  Concern,  the  western 
section  over  the  Cincinnati  Concern,  and  a  full  meeting  of  the 


278 


MANUAL  OF 


whole  committee  to  be  held  once  each  year.  All  agents,  edi- 
tors, and  other  officers  elected  by  the  General  Conference  from 
this  time  might  be  either  ministers  or  laymen. 

13.  Robert  L.  Dasliiell,  Thomas  M.  Eddy,  and  John  M.  Reid 

were  elected  corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Mis- 

E  lections.  1  n 

sionary  Society;  Alpha  J.  Kynett,  corresponding 
secretary  of  Church  Extension  Society  ;  Richard  S.  Rust,  cor- 
responding secretary  of  Freed  men's  Aid  Society  ;  Erastus  O. 
Haven,  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  ; 
John  II.  Vincent,  editor  of  the  Sunday-school  boohs,  papers, 
and  tracts;  "William  Nast,  editor  of  Christian  Apologist; 
Henry  Liebhart,  editor  of  Ilaus  und  Herd,  the  German  family 
magazine  provided  for  by  this  General  Conference,  and  of 
Sunday-school  books  and  tracts  in  German  ;  Daniel  D.  Whcdon, 
editor  of  Methodist  Quarterly  Review;  Erastus  Went  worth, 
editor  of  Ladies'  Repository ;  Daniel  Curry,  editor  of  Chris- 
tian Advocate ;  Francis  S.  Hoyt,  editor  of  Western  Christian 
Advocate;  Arthur  Edwards,  editor  of  North-western  Christian 
Advocate;  Dallas  D.  Lore,  editor  of  Northern  Christian  Advo- 
cate; Benjamin  St.  James  Fry,  editor  of  Central  Christi an  Advo- 
cate; Henry  C.Benson,  editor  of  California  Christian  Advocate  ; 
Isaac  Dillon,  editor  of  Pacific  Christian  Advocate  ;  William 
Hunter,  editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate ;  Nelson  E. 
Cobleigh,  editor  of  Methodist  Advocate,  at  Atlanta;  Reuben 
Nelson  and  John  M.  Phillips,  the  latter  a  layman,  agents  of 
the  Book  Concern  at  New  York ;  Luke  Hitchcock  and  John  M. 
"Walden,  agents  of  the  Book  Concern  at  Cincinnati. 

14.  Unmistakable  utterances  regarding  sinful  amusements 

were  reported  in  response  to  a  lar^c  number  of  me- 

Amusements.  11  «-»  .  • 

morials  and  petitions  from  members  of  the  Church. 
This  was  evidence  that  the  Church  was  awaking  to  a  sense  of 
the  necessity  of  greater  strictness  among  church  members  in  the 
matter  of  amusements.  In  many  quarters  the  spiritual  life  of 
the  Church  had  been  lessened  by  diversions  and  indulgences 
that  bordered  closely  on  the  line  of  worldly  and  often  wicked 
amusements.  The  chapter  in  the  Discipline  on  imprudent 
conduct  was  made  to  censure  "neglect  of  duty  of  any  kind, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


279 


imprudent  conduct,  indulging  sinful  tempers  or  words,  the 
buying,  selling,  or  using  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  beverage, 
dancing,  playing  at  games  of  chance,  attending  theaters,  horse- 
races, circuses,  dancing-parties,  or  patronizing  dancing-schools, 
or  taking  such  other  amusements  as  are  obviously  of  mislead- 
ing or  questionable  moral  tendency,  or  disobedience  to  the 
order  and  discipline  of  the  Church." 

15.  Prior  to  1872  appeals  from  the  decisions  of  an  Annual 
Conference  had  been  heard  by  the  General  Confer-  Judlcial  Con. 
ence  or  by  one  of  its  committees.  This  General  tele- 
conference established  a  new  tribunal  or  court  of  appeal,  to  be 
called  the  Judicial  Conference.  Each  Annual  Conference  was 
to  choose  seven  of  its  elders  as  "  triers  of  appeals."  When 
notice  of  appeal  was  given  to  the  president  of  an  Annual  Con- 
ference he  was  to  designate  three  Conferences,  near  to  but  not 
including  that  from  which  the  appeal  was  taken,  whose  triers 
of  appeals  should  form  the  Judicial  Conference  for  hearing  the 
appeal.  The  presiding  officer  of  this  tribunal  should  be  a 
bishop.  The  General  Conference  was  to  review  its  "  decisions 
of  questions  of  law,"  but  was  given  no  authority  to  act  upon 
the  evidence.  In  case  of  the  trial  of  a  bishop  the  Judicial 
Conference  was  to  consist  of  the  triers  of  appeals  of  five  Annual 
Conferences. 

16.  The  bishops  had  heretofore  chosen  their  own  places  of 
residence.  It  was  now  enacted  that  u  one  of  the  Residences 
newly  elected  bishops  should  reside  at  or  near  each  of  bishops, 
of  the  following  places:  San  Francisco,  St.  Louis,  Boston, 
Atlanta,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Council  Bluffs  or  Omaha,  St. 
Paul ;  and  that  they  should  select  their  residences  from  the 
places  named  according  to  their  seniority  in  official  position." 
Since  then  there  has  been  a  slight  change  in  this  list  of  cities, 
and  other  cities  have  been  added ;  but  it  is  desirable  that  the 
episcopal  residences  shall  be  fixed  in  such  geographical  centers 
as  will  make  them  accessible  to  the  Church. 

17.  For  some  years  the  Western  Book  Concern  Scandinavian 
had  published  at  Chicago  the  Sandehudet  (or  "  Mes-  publications, 
senger"),  a  religious  paper  in  the  Swedish  language.    This  had 


280 


MANUAL  OF 


been  discontinued  after  the  great  tire  at  Chicago,  which  had 
destroyed  the  depository  of  the  Book  Concern.  The  agents 
were  now  instructed  to  resume  its  publication,  and  a  committee 
of  three  Swedish  ministers  and  two  laymen  was  appointed  to 
choose  a  Swedish  editor  and  have  supervision  over  Swedish 
publications.  For  the  benefit  of  "  our  Norwegian  brethren  who 
cannot  read  the  Swedish  language"  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  publish  a  paper  in  Danish,  that  being  the  language  of  Nor- 
way as  well  as  of  Denmark. 

18.  The  General  Conference  adjourned  on  the  4th  of  June, 
t  after  an  important  and  even  exciting  session.  In 

Adjournment.  1  ° 

their  pastoral  address  to  the  Church  they  said  :  "  For 
the  first  time  in  the  history  of  our  Church  the  representatives 
of  the  ministers  and  the  laity  sit  together  in  legislative  council, 
uniting  the  business  experience  of  laymen  with  that  of  the  reg- 
ular pastors.  We  are  glad  to  be  able  to  say  to  you  that  we 
believe  that  the  presence  of  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  is 
with  us,  and  that  the  union  of  ministers  and  laymen  in  our 
councils  gives  great  promise  for  the  future." 

The  quadrennium  from  1872  to  1876  was  essentially  one  of 
The  quadren-  development.  The  work  of  the  Church  was  already 
nium.  g0  we\\  ordered  and  equipped  that  it  was  not  found 

necessary  to  organize  new  societies  or  inaugurate  many  new 
enterprises.  She  had  only  to  use  the  resources  now  at  her 
command,  to  prosecute  the  work  already  begun,  and  to  extend 
her  existing  enterprises  into  some  new  fields.  The  work  of 
the  Church  Extension  Society  began  to  be  pushed  with  energy, 
and  through  its  efforts  churches  were  built  where  otherwise 
this  would  have  been  impossible. 

"  In  1874  Lewis  Miller,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  Vincent  held  the  first 
Thecnautau  Chautauqua  Assembly, ...  to  bring  together  Sunday- 
qua  move-  school  teachers  for  conference  and  for  a  course  of 
systematic  instruction,  not  only  in  lines  of  Bible 
knowledge,  but  also  of  all  learning,  secular  as  well  as  sacred, 
which  would  furnish  equipment  for  their  work."  From  this 
there  developed  later  all  the  various  branches  of  the  Chautau- 
qua movement,  which,  planted  under  Methodist  auspices,  have 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CIIUIIC1I  HISTORY. 


281 


now*  outgrown  all  denominational  barriers,  and  unite  leaders  of 
all  Churches  in  this  great  and  essentially  modern  effort  to  foster 
a  higher  education  in  the  masses  of  the  American  people. 

In  1871  Leroy  M.  Vernon,  D.D.,  was  sent  by  Bishop  Ames 
"  as  the  first  missionary  of  our  Church  to  Italy."  He 

tit       •        •  Till!  ii  i  Methodist 

studied  the  situation  and  looked  thoroughly  over  the  missions  in 
field,  but  circumstances  prevented  him  from  at  once  ItaIy* 
beginning  active  operations.  Toward  the  close  of  1872,  how- 
ever,  the  mission  was  actually  begun,  with  head-quarters  at 
Bologna.  Ravenna,  Rome,  Florence,  Milan,  and  other  places 
were  successively  occupied,  and  in  1874  the  head-quarters  were 
transferred  to  Rome.  There  are  now  about  twenty-five  ap- 
pointments, and  the  work  lias  extended  to  Sicily.  A  Church 
paper,  U Evangelista,  is  published  at  Rome,  and  there  is  a 
theological  school  at  Florence.  The  mission  was  organized  as 
an  Annual  Conference  in  1881. 

In  1872  "William  Butler,  D.D.,  who  had  already  founded 
Methodist  missions  in  India,  was  selected  by  Bishop  Mission  in 
Simpson  to  organize  a  mission  in  Mexico.  He  ar-  Mexico- 
rived  at  Yera  Cruz  in  February,  1873,  and  proceeded  to  the 
city  of  Mexico.  The  old  palace  of  Montezuma,  which  for  over 
three  hundred  years  had  been  used  as  a  Catholic  monastery,  was 
purchased  and  transformed  in  the  course  of  time  not  only  into  a 
church,  but  also  into  missionary  head-quarters,  residences  for 
missionaries,  school-rooms,  an  orphanage,  a  printing-office,  and 
a  book-store.  Other  places  of  worship  were  also  secured  in  the 
city,  work  was  begun  in  Puebla  and  many  other  places,  and  the 
mission  has  grown  until  there  are  now  over  twenty-five  hun- 
dred members  of  our  Church  in  Mexico.  An  official  church 
paper,  El  Abogado  Cristiano  llustrado — "Illustrated  Chris- 
tian Advocate" — is  published  in  the  city  of  Mexico.  The 
mission  was  organized  as  an  Annual  Conference  in  1885,  and 
contains  five  districts  and  thirty-five  appointments. 

In  1872  Robert  S.  Maclay,  D.D.,  who  had  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  Foochow  Mission,  China,  was  appointed   Mission  in 
superintendent  of  a  mission  to  be  opened  in  Japan.  JaPan- 
He  arrived  at  Yokohama  in  June,  1873.    Other  missionaries 


2S2 


MANUAL  OF 


were  sent  out,  both  by  the  general  Missionary  Society  and  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  Tokio  and  Yoko- 
hama, on  the  island  of  Niphon,  Hakodati,  on  the  island  of 
Yesso,  and  Nagasaki,  on  the  island  of  Kiushiu,  were  occupied 
as  stations.  This  work  was  extended,  schools  established,  the 
Anglo-Japanese  College,  with  the  Philander  Smith  Biblical 
Institute  in  connection  with  it,  founded,  useful  works  trans- 
lated, and  these  and  original  works  published  in  Japanese.  The 
mission  was  organized  as  an  xVnnual  Conference  in  1884,  and 
contains  over  thirty-five  hundred  church  members. 

A  number  of  academies  and  foreign  missiou  schools  were 
established  during  this  quadrennium,  as  well  as  im- 

Education.  f    .  * 

port  ant  schools  ot  higher  grade.  Among  these  may 
be  mentioned  the  theological  schools  in  Sweden,  and  at  Puebla 
in  Mexico ;  Clark  University,  at  Atlanta,  Ga. ;  New  Orleans 
University,  at  Xew  Orleans,  La.  ;  and  Wiley  University,  at 
Marshall,  Tex.  The  last  three  institutions  are  chiefly  de- 
signed for  colored  students,  and  are  supported  in  part  by  the 
Freed  men's  Aid  Society. 

Boston  University  was  chartered  in  1869.  Its  founders  were 
Boston  rni-  I§aac  Bich,  Lee  Claflin,  and  Jacob  Sleeper.  Mr. 
versity.  Rich  bequeathed  to  it  the  bulk  of  his  estate,  valued 
at  $1,500,000.  The  Boston  Theological  Seminary  became  the 
School  of  Theology  of  the  university  in  1871,  and  was  the  first 
department  put  into  operation.  In  1ST2  the  College  of  Music 
and  the  School  of  Law  were  organized  ;  in  1873  the  College  of 
Liberal  Arts  and  the  School  of  Medicine,  and  in  1871  the 
School  of  All  Sciences.  The  Massachusetts  Agricultural  Col- 
lege, at  Amherst,  supplies  the  place  of  an  agricultural  depart- 
ment. There  were  one  thousand  and  thirty-eight  students  in 
all  departments  during  the  academic  year  18^0-91 ;  and  the 
university  has  already  become  one  of  the  leading  educational 
institutions  in  Xew  England  and  in  the  United  States.  Pew 
William  F.  Warren,  LL.D.,  has  been  its  president  from  the 
beginning. 

Thomas  A.  Morris,  senior  bishop,  died  at  Springfield,  O., 
September  2,  1874.    He  was  born  near  Charleston,  W.  Ya., 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


283 


April  28,  1794.  His  parents  were  both  members  of  the  Bap- 
tist Church;  but  he  was  converted  at  a  Methodist  camp- 
meeting,  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  Death of  Clsh. 
in  1813.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1814,  was  °«'  'Morris- 
admitted  on  trial  in  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1816,  and 
into  full  connection  in  1818.  He  passed  through  all  the 
grades  in  the  ministry,  serving  as  junior  preacher,  preacber-in- 
charge,  presiding  elder,  bishop,  and  senior  bishop.  He  was 
appointed  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate  in  1834, 
and  elected  bishop  in  1836.  "  To  the  charming  simplicity 
both  of  tastes  and  manners  which  eminently  characterized  him 
in  all  the  walks  of  life,  he  added  the  graces  of  a  genuine  nature 
and  of  a  beautiful  Christian  character.  As  a  preacher  he  was 
chaste,  sincere,  and  many  times  greatly  eloquent.  As  a  bishop 
he  was  considerate,  careful,  and  judicious,  and  never  forgetful 
of  the  most  humble  of  his  brethren  in  the  administration  of  his 
high  office.  He  was  by  nature  reticent  and  silent,  but  no  heart 
ever  throbbed  with  more  genial  and  genuine  sympathies.  For 
sixty  years  he  devoted  himself  strictly  and  usefully  to  the  up- 
building of  the  Church  of  God." 

John  "Wright  Roberts,  second  missionary  bishop  for  Africa, 
died  at  Monrovia,  Liberia,  January  30,  1875.  He  Death  of  Bish- 
was  born  of  colored  parentage,  at  Petersburg,  Ya.,  op  Roberts- 
and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  while  in  the 
United  States.  At  an  early  age  he  emigrated  to  Liberia.  He 
became  a  missionary  in  1838  and  was  ordained  an  elder  in 
1841.  The  General  Conference  of  1864  having  provided  for 
the  election  of  a  successor  to  Bishop  Burns,  he  was  elected 
missionary  bishop  by  the  Liberia  Conference  in  1866,  and  was 
consecrated  the  same  year  in  New  York  city.  Returning  to 
Liberia,  he  labored  earnestly  in  the  interests  of  the  Church. 
His  death  occurred  during  the  annual  session  of  the  Liberia 
Conference,  which,  when  informed  that  he  was  dying,  ad- 
journed to  meet  for  prayer  around  his  bedside,  and  his  "dying 
hours  were  crowned  with  glorious  experiences." 

Thomas  M.  Eddy,  D.D.,  one  of  the  general  missionary  sec- 
retaries, died  October  7,  1874.    He  was  born  near  Cincinnati, 


284 


MANUAL  OF 


September  7,  1823.    He  entered  the  Indiana  Conference  in 
1842.    Upon  the  death  of  Dr.  Watson  in  November, 

Death  of  1  "  J,  " 

Thomas  m.  1865,  he  was  appointed  to  the  editorship  of  the  North- 
western Christian  Advocate,  at  Chicago,  and  continued 
in  this  position  until  18G8.  The  following  four  years  he  served 
as  a  pastor  in  Baltimore  and  Washington,  and  he  was  elected 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society  in  1S72. 
Dr.  Eddy  was  a  brilliant  man,  an  eloquent  preacher,  and  a  true 
Christian. 

Two  of  the  editors  elected  at  the  last  General  Conference 
died  during  the  quadrennium.   kelson  E.  Cobieigh, 

Deaths  of  Drs.  .  1  .  ?  ' 

cobieigh  and  D.D.,  was  born  in  JSew  Hamphire  m  1814,  and  died 
at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  February  1,  1874.  He  graduated  at 
Wesleyan  University,  entered  the  iS  ew  England  Conference,  be- 
came professor  of  ancient  languages  in  McKendree  College  and 
Lawrence  University,  president  of  the  former,  editor  of  Zion  s 
Herald,  president  of  East  Tennessee  Wesieyan  University,  and, 
in  1872,  editor  of  the  Methodist  Advocate,  at  Atlanta.  Dallas 
D.  Lore,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Xew  Jersey  in  1815,  and  died  near 
Auburn,  X.  Y.,  June  20, 1875.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  1837, 
and  in  1847  sailed  as  a  missionary  to  South  America,  where  he 
spent  seven  years  as  pastor  of  a  church  in  Buenos  Ayres.  In 
1864  he  was  elected  editor  of  the  Northern  Christian  Ad- 
vocate, at  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  was  twice  re-elected.  The 
book  committee  appointed  Dr.  Erasmus  Q.  Fuller  editor  of  the 
Methodist  Advocate,  and  Dr.  Orris  H.  Warren  editor  of  the 
Northern  Christian  Advocate,  to  fill  the  vacancies  caused  by 
the  deaths  of  Drs.  Cobieigh  and  Lore. 

Three  of  the  former  book  agents  died  during  this  quadren- 
Deathsof  Drs.  nium.  John  II.  Power,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Kentucky 
rower,  Thom-  jn  ^98  and  died  in  Iowa,  January  20,  1873.  For 

as,  and  Carl-  ,  m.         u      •     ai  ■ 

ton.  twenty-eight  years  he  was  a  presiding  elder  in  On:o 

and  Iowa  ;  he  was  a  delegate  to  eight  General  Conferences  ; 
from  184S  to  1852  he  was  assistant  agent  at  the  Western  Book 
Concern,  and  he  was  the  author  of  several  works  upon  religious 
and  other  subjects.  Eleazer  Thomas,  D.D.,  was  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York  in  1814,  and  was  killed  in  California,  April 


MZTIIODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


285 


11,  1S73.  Ho  was  editor  of  the  California  Christian  Advocate 
from  185G  to  18G8.  In  the  latter  year  lie  was  elected  book 
agent  at  New  York  to  reside  at  San  Francisco,  and  have 
charge  of  the  book  depository  there.  In  1872  he  became 
presiding  elder  of  the  Petal n ma  District  of  the  California  Con- 
ference. He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  peace  commission 
to  treat  with  the  Modoc  Indians,  who  had  been  engaged  in  war 
against  the  government,  and  with  General  Canny,  the  military 
commander,  was  massacred  while  attending  a  conference  with 
the  Indians. 

Thomas  Carlton,  D.D.,  was  a  prominent  figure  in  this  quad- 
renninm.  He  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1808.  He  united 
with  the  Genesee  Conference  in  1829.  He  spent  the  following 
twenty  years  in  the  pastorate,  either  as  pastor  or  presiding  elder, 
in  both  which  positions  he  was  greatly  useful.  In  1852  he  was 
elected  bv  the  General  Conference  to  the  office  of  book  a^ent 
in  New  York,  to  which  was  then  attached,  as  now,  the  onerous 
duties  of  treasurer  of  the  Missionary  Society.  In  this  relation 
he  continued  for  twenty  years,  conducting  the  constantly  in- 
creasing business  of  the  Concern  with  remarkable  sagacity  and 
success.    He  died  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  April  17,  1874. 

Eev.  Feter  Cartwright,  D.J).,  died  September  25, 1872.  He 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1785,  but  in  childhood  was 

&  ,  J_  Death  of  Dr. 

removed  with  his  family  to  Kentucky,  then  on  the  reter  cart- 
frontier  of  civilization.  In  1801  he  was  converted,  wnght* 
and  the  next  year  began  to  preach.  In  1805  he  was  admitted  on 
trial  in  the  Western  Conference,  which  then  included  the  whole 
Mississippi  valley.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  Asbury 
and  elder  by  Bishop  McKendree.  He  was  a  member  of  thirteen 
General  Conferences  and  a  presiding  elder  for  fifty-four  years. 
With  peculiarities  which  grew  with  his  years,  he  must  still  be 
termed  one  of  the  most  prominent  figures  in  the  early  history 
of  Western  Methodism. 

Ludwig  S.  Jacoby,  D.D.,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1813  and 
died  in  St.  Louis  June  21,  1874.    By  birth  he  was  a   Death  of  Dr. 
Hebrew  of  the  tribe  of  Levi;  but,  coming  to  America,  Jacoby- 
he  was  converted  and  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 


236 


MANUAL  OF 


Entering  the  ministry,  he  became  a  leader  among  German 
Methodists,  and  in  1S49  was  sent  by  the  Missionary  Society 
to  open  a  mission  in  Germany.  lie  labored  there  for  twenty- 
two  years,  as  pastor,  presiding  elder,  editor,  book  agent,  and 
superintendent,  and  returned  to  America  only  three  years 
before  his  death. 

At  the  close  of  1ST6  there  were  11,072  traveling  preachers 
— an  increase  in  four  years  of  830 ;  12,657  local 

Statistics.  J  1 

preachers — an   increase    of  1,275;   and  1,651,512 
church  members — an  increase  of  103,091. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  2S7 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1876 — EVENTS  OF  THE  QUADRENNIUM, 

1876-1880. 

The  seventeenth  delegated  and  twenty-third  General  Con- 
ference of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  convened  in  Balti- 
more, Md.,  May  1,  187G.  The  sessions  were  held  in  the 
Academy  of  Music.  This  was  the  eleventh  time  the  General 
Conference  had  assembled  in  this  historic  city,  the  "cradle  of 
American  Methodism."  There  were  present  222  ministerial 
and  133  lay  delegates,  making  a  body  of  355  legislators  in  the 
supreme  council  of  Methodism.  The  oldest  delegates  were 
Rev.  Aaron  Wood,  D.D.,  of  the  North-west  Indiana  Conference, 
and  Rev.  Gardner  Baker,  of  the  Northern  New  York  Con- 
ference. They  were  invited  to  seats  on  the  platform  with  the 
bishops  as  a  mark  of  respect. 

From  the  Germany  and  Switzerland  Conference  came  Rev. 
Charles  II.  Docring,  D.D.,  a  native  of  Hanover,  German}7,  born 
i:i  1811.  He  came  to  America  in  1836,  was  converted  at 
Wheeling,  W.  Ya.,  and  graduated  at  Allegheny  College.  In 
1850  he  went  to  Germany  to  help  in  the  work  of  Methodism 
in  the  Fatherland.  From  India  came  James  M.  Thobnrn,  since 
made  missionary  bishop  of  India.  From  the  Liberia  Confer- 
ence came  Rev.  Daniel  Ware,  a  colored  man.  Four  continents 
were  thus  represented  in  this  body  of  active  Christian  workers. 
The  bishops  were  all  present,  namely,  Janes,  Scott,  Simpson, 
Ames,  Bowman,  Harris,  Foster,  Wiley, Merrill,  Andrews,  Haven, 
and  Peck.    Dr.  George  W.  Woodruff  was  elected  secretary. 

1.  On  the  first  day  of  the  session  Bishop  Andrews  presented 
an  address  of  the  bishops  on  the  subject  of  an  appro-  Bishops.  ad, 
priate  celebration  of   the  approaching  centennial  dress  on  the 
anniversary  of  American  independence.    They  urged 
a  "  special  religious  commemoration 99  of  the  occasion,  and  gave 


2S8 


MANUAL  OF 


as  one  reason  why  American  Methodists  should  heartily  join  in 
this  celebration  that  "our  Church  is  almost  coeval  with  the 
State.  When  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  made 
twenty-five  ministers  and  less  than  five  thousand  members, 
enrolled  in  eleven  circuits,  constituted  the  new  religious  organ- 
ization. Few  would  have  prophesied  for  it  a  career  of  distin- 
guished usefulness.  But  it  pleased  Providence  that  the  new 
experiment  of  popular  government  should  not  lack  the  quick- 
ened moral  life  on  which  its  success  depended.  In  the  infant 
Church  had  been  provided  a  doctrine,  a  polity,  and  a  spirit 
singularly  fitted  to  the  exigencies  of  the  rising  State,  and  des- 
tined to  contribute  largely  to  its  order,  unity,  and  progress." 
The  national  anniversary  was  well  observed  by  the  Methodists 
throughout  the  Northern  States.  Thousands  of  sermons,  lect- 
ures, and  addresses  were  delivered  from  Methodist  pulpits  and 
platforms.  Utterances  of  patriotism  and  of  loyalty  to  the 
government  were  mingled  with  expressions  of  love  for  and 
sincere  devotion  to  the  Church. 

2.  On  the  fifth  day  of  the  session  the  bishops'  address  was 
Bishops'  ad-  presented.  It  briefly  described  the  condition  of  the 
dress.  Church,  reviewed  the  work  of  the  last  quadrennium, 

and  recommended  some  necessary  legislation.  Bishop  Harris  had 
completed  the  circuit  of  the  globe,  visiting  the  missions  under 
the  direction  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  the 
first  Protestant  bishop  who  had  made  the  circuit  of  the  earth, 
and  yet  he  was  never  out  of  his  lawful  diocese.  The  bishops 
gave  their  reasons  for  thinking  it  advisable  that  one  of  their 
number  should  be  delegated  to  visit  the  Liberia  Conference. 
The  last  visitation  had  been  made  in  1853  by  Bishop  Scott. 

The  bishops  reported  having  secured,  in  accordance  to  the 
connectionai  order  of  the  General  Conference  of  1872,  new 
interests.  charters  for  the  Missionary,  Sunday-school,  and  Tract 
societies.  The  board  of  managers  of  the  Church  Extension 
Society  had  also  obtained  a  new  charter.  By  these  charters  the 
societies  were  placed  wholly  under  the  control  of  the  General 
Conference.  They  reported  that  there  were  19,2S7  Sunday- 
schools,  207,182  officers  and  teachers,  and  1,406,16$  scholars. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  289 


The  number  of  church  members  at  the  close  of  1875  was 
1,580,559,  and  of  ministers  10,923.  Of  churches  there  were 
15,633,  valued  at  $71,350,234.  There  were  5,017  parsonages, 
valued  at  $9,731,628.  This  temporal  prosperity,  they  said,  "  is 
an  evidence  that  neither  the  ministry  nor  membership  of  the 
Church  has  declined  in  spirituality  and  devotion  to  God  and  his 
cause."  They  regarded  the  "  connectional  character  of  our 
Church"  as  "of  the  highest  importance  and  greatest  utility. 
.  .  .  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  the  sublime  unity  of 
her  grand  purpose  and  under  the  government  and  direction  of 
the  General  Conference  as  her  supreme  authority,  is  much' 
mightier  in  her  action  and  influence  than  she  could  possibly  be 
in  independent  divisions.  She  can  better  antagonize  great 
errors,  contend  with  enormous  vices,  overthrow  combinations 
of  wickedness,  and  forward  the  triumphs  of  divine  truth 
and  grace  in  the  earth."  The  great  agencies  of  the  Church 
— the  Sunday-School  Union,  Missionary  Society,  Book  Con- 
cern, etc.,  and  the  general  snperintendency — were  bonds  of 
such  union. 

The  address  stated  a  truth  regarding  the  polity  of  the  Church 
which  is  not  better  stated  in  any  other  place:  "The  The  Ch  h 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  not  a  confederacy  of  n°t  a  con- 
eighty-one  Annual  Conferences,  nor  a  mere  associ-  L  Cr"C)' 
ation  of  some  nine  thousand  pastoral  charges.  It  is  a  simple 
body  of  which  these  pastors  and  churches  and  Conferences  are 
component  parts,  and  all  members  one  of  another.  ..  .. We  can- 
not give  attention  to  one  portion  of  the  Church  to  the  neglect 
of  another  portion.  This  General  Conference  cannot  rightfully 
legislate  for  one  part  of  the  Church  to  the  disadvantage  of 
another  part  of  the  Church.  The  legislation  of  this  General 
Conference,  the  administrations  of  the  general  superintend- 
ents, and  the  oversight  of  each  pastor  must  be  with  equal 
eye  to  all,  as  their  exigencies  and  interests  demand.  There 
is  no  constitutional  way  by  which  any  member  or  members 
can  be  excluded  from  the  Church,  or  placed  beyond  her  super- 
vision and  pastoral  oversight,  except  by  judicial  process  for 

wrong-doing." 
20 


290 


MANUAL  OF 


The  bishops  referred  briefly  to  a  change  in  the  economy  of 
superintend-  their  office  by  which  it  was  proposed  to  confine  their 
ency'  jurisdiction  to  separate  districts.     This  plan  had 

been  advocated  in  some  quarters  as  preferable  to  that  of  a  gen- 
eral superintendency.  While  not  fully  expressing  they  made  no 
attempt  to  disguise  their  conviction  that  such  a  change  would 
be  prejudicial  to  the  interests  of  the  Church.  The  presiding 
eldership  was  also  discussed. 

In  speaking  of  the  need  of  providing  for  the  religious  neces- 
preaching  to  sitics  of  the  poorer  classes  they  said :  "  The  true 
the  poor.  Church  has  always  preached  the  Gospel  to  the  poor. 
This  has  been  characteristic  of  Methodism  throughout  its  his- 
tory. It  is  not  only  Christ-like,  but  it  is  expedient.  The 
Church  which  preaches  to  most  of  the  poor  of  this  generation, 
other  things  being  equal,  will  preach  to  the  most  of  the  rich  in 
the  next  generation." 

3.  The  East  China  Mission  addressed  a  letter  to  the  General 
FoochowCoa-  Conference,  asking  for  the  establishment  of  that  mis- 
ference.  sjon  a5  ai]  Annual  Conference,  with  all  powers  be- 
longing to  such  a  body.  The  mission  comprised  4  *presidi rig 
elders'  districts,  6  American  missionaries,  6  native  elders,  6 
native  deacons,  21  native  unordained  preachers,  and  35  preach- 
ers on  trial,  with  1.228  members,  616  probationers,  and  427  bap- 
tized children.  The  petitioners  declared  their  love  for  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  believing  it  to  be  especially  adapted  to 
the  needs  of  China,  "  and  so  nearly  perfect  that  the  only  fear  is 
that  they  may  weaken  its  efficiency."  They  spoke  of  the  visit 
of  Bishop  Harris  to  them,  and  his  exercise  of  the  episcopal 
office  among  them.  In  compliance  with  this  petition  the 
General  Conference  ordered  that  the  East  China  Mission  be 
erected  into  an  Annual  Conference  to  be  known  as  the  Foochow 
Conference.  Bishop  \Viley  made  the  next  episcopal  visit  to 
China  and  organized  the  Conference  December  19,  1877.  On 
December  25,  Christmas  day,  the  newly  formed  Conference 
wrote  to  the  Missionary  Society  expressing  their  satisfaction  with 
the  result  of  Bishop  ^Viley's  visit  and  their  gratitude  to  the  so- 
ciety for  all  its  efforts  for  the  evangelization  of  China.  This 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


201 


letter  is  printed  in  Chinese  characters,  and  also  in  translation, 
in  The  Christian  Advocate  of  March  14,  1878.  It  is  signed  in 
behalf  of  the  Conference  by  that  remarkable  native  Christian, 
Sia  Sek  Ong. 

4.  Our  missions  in  India  had  grown  far  beyond  the  terri- 
tories originally  occupied.    The  India  Mis-ion  Con- 
ference had  been  organized  in  1864,  and  had  been  S^owS 
invested  with  the  full  privileges  of  an  Annual  Con-  lzed  as  Con- 

/  °  ferences. 

ference  in  1868 ;  but  it  was  now  thought  necessary 
to  divide  the  work  into  two  Annual  Conferences.  The  North 
India  Conference  was  to  include  "the  province  of  Oudh  and 
the  districts  of  Rohilkund,  Cawnpore,  Kurnaon,  and  Garhwal 
in  the  North-west  Provinces."  The  South  India  Conference 
was  to  include  the  rest  of  India.  The  same  action  of  the 
General  Conference  authorized,  also,  the  formation  of  Annual 
Conferences  in  Sweden  and  in  Norway,  and  granted  the  bish- 
ops discretionary  power  to  organize  still  another  in  Italy. 

5.  In  the  report  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension  submitted 
to  the  General  Conference  the  condition  of  the  so-  church  exten- 
ciety  was  shown  to  be  more  prosperous  than  ever  siOD- 
before.  There  had  been  a  large  increase  in  contributions  and 
in  the  work  performed.  The  Loan  Fund  had  grown  to  $304,- 
827.56.  In  four  years  the  society  had  disbursed  from  its  gen- 
eral fund,  in  donations  and  expenses,  §357,465.42,  and  from  the 
origin  of  the  society  $768,561.21,  in  addition  to  the  Loan  Fund, 
much  of  which  had  been  loaned  several  times  over.  The  Loan 
Fund  wras  originated  in  1867,  and  has  become  perhaps  the  most 
important  feature  in  the  work  of  the  society. 

6.  The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  showed  a  like  prosperous 
condition.  It  had  disbursed  in  eight  years  over  half  Freedmen's 
a  million  dollars  for  the  evangelization  and  education  Ald  Society* 
of  the  Negroes  in  the  South-land.  In  seminaries,  theological 
schools,  and  colleges  the  society  was  preparing  young  colored 
men  and  women  to  be  teachers,  preachers,  and  good  citizens. 
The  entire  South  had  experienced  the  beneficial  results  of  this 
work. 

7.  The  Sunday-School  Union  made  an  interesting  report. 


292 


MANUAL  OF 


The  Church  was  never  more  alive  to  the  necessity  of  Christian 
Sunday-  culture  for  its  children  and  youth.  During  the  quad- 
scnoois.  renninm,  under  the  leadership  of  Dr.  Vincent,  the 
methods  of  Sunday-school  work  had  been  much  altered  and 
improved.  New  life  had  been  infused  into  every  part.  The 
International  Lesson  System  had  been  adopted  by  the  Church ; 
the  Bible  was  being  systematically  studied ;  the  geography  and 
archaeology  of  Bible  lands  were  receiving  recognition  as  indis- 
pensable aids  to  the  proper  understanding  of  the  word  of  God. 
The  use  of  the  blackboard  in  the  illustration  of  Scripture  les- 
sons— the  use  of  music  and  poetry  of  a  higher  order  but  adapted 
to  youth — of  maps  and  charts  appealing  to  the  eye,  and  through 
the  eye  to  the  heart,  was  recognized  as  an  efficient  means  of 
attaining  success  in  Sunday-school  work.  The  membership  of 
the  Sunday-schools  was  about  equal  to  the  membership  of  the 
Church.  There  had  been  revivals  in  the  schools  throughout  the 
country,  and  280,565  scholars  were  reported  as  having  been 
converted. 

8.  At  the  General  Conference  cf  1872  Rev.  Alfred  Brunson, 
D.D.,  proposed  certain  Articles  of  Faith  to  be  added 

Ng^v  Articles 

of  Religion  to  the  present  twenty-five  Articles  of  Religion,  and 
proposed.  thereby  to  become  a  part  of  the  standards  of  Meth- 
odism. They  were  designed  to  set  forth  in  formulated  text  the 
belief  of  the  Church  on  doctrines  peculiar  to  Methodism.  The 
proposition  was  considered  of  so  much  importance  that  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  referred  them  to  the  Board  of  Bishops  to  care- 
fully consider  and  report  upon.  Consequently  the  bishops,  by 
Bishop  Merrill,  presented  an  elaborate  report  concerning  the 
constitutional  hinderances  to  the  adoption  of  the  proposition. 
The  report  acknowledged  the  "close  thought  and  careful  dis- 
crimination" of  the  proposed  articles,  their  scriptural  character, 
and  their  general  freedom  from  "  serious  objections,"  but  argued 
that  their  adoption  and  publication  as  proposed  would  be  in 
violation  of  the  first  restrictive  rule,  which  guards  the  Articles 
of  Religion  in  clearly  understood  words,  as  follows  :  "  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  shall  not  revoke,  alter,  or  change  our  Articles 
of  Religion,  nor  establish  any  new  standards  or  rules  of  doctrine 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  293 


contrary  to  our  present  existing  and  established  standard  of 
doctrines."  The  bishops  did  not  therefore  recommend  the  action 
Bought  in  the  paper  referred  to  them.  As  a  constitutional  argu- 
ment upon  Methodist  polity  their  report  has  never  been  sur- 
passed. 

9.  In  the  North  Indiana  Conference  of  1875  a  question  of 
law  regarding  the  licensing  of  women  to  preach  was 

°  °  °  1  Licensing  of 

carried  on  appeal  to  the  General  Conference  of  1S7G.  women  to 
In  the  Richmond  District  the  case  of  a  woman  was  preach' 
presented  for  license  as  a  local  preacher.  The  presiding  elder 
ruled  that  "the  licensing  or  re-licensing  of  a  woman  to  preach 
is  unauthorized  by  the  Discipline  and  usages  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church."  An  appeal  was  taken  to  Bishop  Thomas 
Bowman,  presiding  at  the  North  Indiana  Conference  at  Elk- 
hart, Ind.,  April  14,  1875.  Bishop  Bowman  sustained  and 
affirmed  the  decision  of  the  presiding  elder.  Rev.  Mr.  Mahan 
appealed  from  the  decision  of  Bishop  Bowman  to  the  General 
Conference.  Here  the  case  was  carefully  considered,  and  the 
opinion  of  Bishop  Bowman  was  sustained  and  affirmed  as  "cor- 
rect and  agreeable  to  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  Discipline." 

To  this  action  there  was  a  minority  report,  which,  at  much 
length  and  in  excellent  spirit,  took  an  opposite  view,  and  re- 
ported that  the  decision  of  Bishop  Bowman  and  also  of  Bishop 
Merrill,  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Van  Cott,  was  erroneous.  But  the 
General  Conference  did  not  adopt  the  minority  report,  and  the 
rule  remained  in  force. 

The  whole  subject  of  licensing  and  ordaining  of  women  was 
carefully  considered  by  the  Committee  on  the  State  of  the 
Church.  They  gave  much  time  to  an  inquiry  into  all  the 
phases  of  the  subject.  They  reported  adversely  to  licensing 
and  ordaining  of  women  as  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  recom- 
mended that  there  be  no  legislation.*  The  name  of  the  woman 
in  Indiana  seeking  local  preacher's  license  was  Mrs.  Dr.  Teagne. 
The  preacher  in  charge  was  McKeag,  and  the  presiding  elder 
was  Rev.  W.  II.  Goode,  D.D. 

*  See  Minutes  of  North  Indiana  Conference,  1875;  General  Conference  Journal, 
1S7G;  Daily  Christian  Advocate,  May,  187G. 


294 


MANUAL  OF 


10.  D.  D.  Whedon  was  elected  editor  of  the  Quarterly  Re- 
mew  :  John  H.  Yincent,  editor  of  Sunday-school 

Elections 

books,  papers,  and  tracts ;  Reuben  Nelson  and  John 
M.  Phillips,  agents  of  Book  Concern  at  ]STew  York ;  Luke 
Hitchcock  and  J.  M.  Walden,  book  agents  at  Cincinnati ; 
Henry  C.  Benson,  editor  of  California  Christian  Advocate / 
Charles  H.  Fowler,  editor  of  The  Christian  Advocate;  Francis 
S.  Hoyt,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advocate  •  William  Nast, 
editor  of  Christian  Apologist  •  Henry  Liebhart,  editor  of  Haus 
und  Herd /  Arthur  Edwards,  editor  of  North-western  Chris- 
tian Advocate  /  Benj.  St.  James  Fry,  editor  of  Ceniral  Chris- 
tian Advocate  y  O.  H.  Warren,  editor  of  Northern  Christian 
Advocate  ;  E.  Q.  Fuller,  editor  of  Methodist  Advocate  at  At- 
lanta ;  D.  Curry,  editor  of  Ladies^  Repository  j  Alfred  Wheeler, 
editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate  /  John  H.  Acton,  ed- 
itor of  Pacific  Christian  Advocate.  R.  L.  Dashiell  and  John 
M.  Reid  were  elected  corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society ;  Alpha  J.  Kynett,  corresponding  secretary  of 
the  Board  of  Church  Extension ;  Richard  S.  Rust,  correspond- 
ing secretary  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society. 

During  the  session  of  the  General  Conference  of  1876  one  of 
Rev.  George  the  oldest  lights  of  Methodism  burned  low  and  went 
peck.  0U£ — ;Rev.  George  Peck,  D.D.    Dr.  Peck  was  a  na- 

tive of  Middlefield,  Otsego  County,  K  Y.,  born  August  8,  1797. 
He  became  a  Methodist  in  1812,  and  in  1S16  entered  the  min- 
istry. He  was  a  youth  of  studious  habits,  and  carried  his  love  of 
study  into  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  great  prominence  among  his 
brethren.  He  was  a  member  of  thirteen  General  Conferences, 
commencing  with  1824.  In  1824  he  was  presiding  elder  on 
Susquehanna  District;  in  1835,  principal  of  Oneida  Conference 
Seminary;  from  1840  to  1848,  editor  of  the  Methodist  Quar- 
terly Review ;  in  1848,  editor  of  the  Christian  Advocate  and 
Journal.  He  left  the  Advocate  in  1852  and  re-entered  the  pas- 
torate. As  a  delegate  to  the  first  Evangelical  Alliance  in  Lon- 
don Dr.  Peck  took  an  active  and  prominent  part.  His  death 
occurred  May  20,  1876. 

The  General  Conference  of  1876  provided  for  the  appoint- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  295 


ment  by  the  bishops  of  suitable  persons  to  revise  the  Hymn- 
book.     They  were  to  appoint  fifteen  persons,  to  be 

J  ,rx  1  '  Revision  of 

divided  into  three  sections  of  live  each,  "  selected  the  Hymn- 
with  reference  to  convenience  of  location,"  who  should,  book* 
under  guarded  restrictions,  carefully  revise  the  Hymn-book,  and 
on  the  revision  receiving  the  sanction  of  the  bishops  the  book 
agents  were  "instructed  to  publish  it.  It  was  enacted  as  a  rule 
that  "  no  hymn  now  in  use  shall  be  excluded  without  a  vote  of 
two  thirds  of  the  committee  for  its  rejection,  and  that  no  hymn 
not  now  in  the  collection  shall  be  admitted  without  a  vote  of 
two  thirds  of  the  committee  in  its  favor."  The  committee  was 
also  instructed  to  "  prepare  a  suitable  Hymn  and  Tune  Book  for 
the  use  of  the  Church."  After  the  adjournment  of  the  General 
Conference  the  bishops  appointed  the  following  committee : 
Central  Section — J.  M.  Buckley,  R.  Wheatley,  Erastus  Went- 
worth,  J.  1ST.  Brown,  and  C.  E.  Hendrickson.  Eastern  Section 
— D.  A.  Whedon,  C.  S.  Harrington,  William  Rice,  George  Pren- 
tice, and  C.  F.  Allen.  Western  Section — F.  D.  Hemenway, 
William  Hunter,  Arthur  Edwards,  J.  H.  Bayliss,  and  C.  H. 
Payne. 

The  committee  proceeded  with  their  work  carefully  and  pru- 
dently, and  submitted  it  to  the  bishops  at  their  session  in  Cleve- 
land, O.  They  examined  all  parts  of  the  work  in  detail,  and 
accepted  the  Hymnal* 

When  published  its  sale  proceeded  rapidly.  It  at  once  took 
rank  as  one  of  the  best  Hymnals  ever  produced.  It  soon  dis- 
placed the  old  editions  and  became  the  standard  Hymnal  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  of  the  Church  of  this 
period  occurred  in  August,  1876.  From  the  time  Peace  Com. 
of  the  General  Conference  of  1872  to  that  of  1S76  mission- 
efforts  had  been  made  by  some  leading  men  to  have  ad- 
justed the  differences  between  the  two  great  branches  of  Epis- 
copal Methodism.  The  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  South,  appointed  Edward  II.  Myers,  Robert 
K.  Hargrove,  Thomas  M.  Finney,  David  Clopton,  and  Robert 

*  See  Approval  of  the  Bishops  in  Preface  to  Hymnal. 


296 


MANUAL  OF 


JB.  Yance  commissioners  to  meet  commissioners  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  appointed  Morris  D'C.  Crawford, 
Enoch  L.  Fancher,  Erasmus  Q.  Fuller,  Clinton  B.  Fisk,  and 
John  P.  Newman  as  the  commissioners  from  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  These  commissioners  met  at  Cape  May, 
X.  J.,  August  16,  1876,  and  formed  the  historic  "Commission 
o:i  Fraternity."  They  continued  in  session  seven  days.  Their 
discussions  took  a  wide  range.  Every  point  of  difference  that 
had  arisen  out  of  the  late  civil  war  was  canvassed.  The  Com- 
mission gave  their  conclusion  in  an  address  issued  to  the  bishops, 
ministers,  and  members  of  both  Churches. 

In  this  wise  and  temperate  address  was  the  following  "  Dec- 
laration and  Basis  of  Fraternity  : 99 

•'As  to  the  status  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  and  their  co-ordinate 
relation  as  legitimate  branches  of  Episcopal  Methodism,  each 
of  said  Churches  is  a  legitimate  branch  of  Episcopal  Method- 
ism in  the  United  States,  having  a  common  origin  in  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  organized  in  1784 ;  and  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  was 
consummated  in  1815,  by  the  voluntary  exercise  of  the  right 
of  the  Southern  Annual  Conferences,  ministers,  and  members 
to  adhere  to  that  communion,  it  has  been  an  evangelical  Church, 
reared  on  scriptural  foundations,  and  her  ministers  and  mem- 
bers, with  those  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  have  con- 
stituted one  Methodist  family,  though  in  distinct  ecclesiastical 
connections." 

The  Commission  found  it  necessary  to  consider  the  "  conflict- 
ing claims  to  church  property."  Some  special  cases  were  also 
considered  on  their  merits.  They  met  "two  principal  ques- 
tions .  .  .  with  regard  to  the  church  property  in  dispute  be- 
tween local  societies  of  the  two  Churches : 

"  First,  as  to  the  legal  ownership  of  said  property ; 

<;  Second,  as  to  whether  it  will  consist  with  strict  equity,  or 
promote  Christian  harmony  or  the  cause  of  religion,  to  dispos- 
sess those  societies  now  using  Church  property  which  was  orig- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  297 


inally  intended  for  their  use  and  occupancy,  and  of  which  they 
have  acquired  possession,  though  they  may  have  lost  legal  title 
to  it  by  their  transfer  from  the  one  Church  to  the  other." 

The  Commission  laid  down  four  rules,  the  substance  of  which 
is  as  follows : 

1.  In  cases  not  adjudicated  by  the  Joint  Commission  any  society 
in  possession,  constituted  by  the  Discipline  of  its  Church,  should 
have  possession,  except  where,  in  the  same  place,  there  is  a 
larger  society  of  the  other  Church  claiming  the  use  of  the  prop- 
erty, when  they  should  have  it. 

2.  Decisions  of  courts  regarding  the  title  of  church  property 
should  be  carried  out.  If  an  agreement  had  been  entered  into 
by  the  societies  it  should  be  kept  in  good  faith.  In  cases 
where  societies  could  not  agree  they  should  be  referred  to  arbi- 
trators, chosen,  one  by  each  society,  and  these  to  choose  a  third, 
and  the  decision  of  two  of  them  should  be  final. 

3.  Whenever  it  became  necessary  to  carry  out  the  rules  of 
agreement  the  title  to  the  property  should  be  conveyed  with- 
out delay. 

4.  These  rules  were  to  take  effect  immediately. 

The  address  of  the  Commission  on  Fraternity  also  contained 
these  wise  words  :  "  To  all  we  commend  the  wise  counsels  given 
in  1820  to  missionaries  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church  and  of  the  Wesleyan  Connection  in  the  Canadas, 
by  Bishop  McKendree  and  the  Wesleyan  committee,  namely : 
'  Feel  that  you  are  one  with  your  brethren,  embarked  in  the 
same  great  cause,  and  eminently  of  the  same  religious  family ; 
and  if  any  warm  spirits  rise  up  and  trouble  you,  remember  that 
you  are  to  act  on  the  principles  now  sanctioned  and  avowed  by 
the  two  Connections,  and  not  upon  local  prejudices.' " 

At  the  General  Conference  of  1880,  on  a  motion  of  Elisha 
P.  Phelps,  of  the  Virginia  Conference,'  to  take  up  the  report 
of  the  "  Commission  on  Fraternity,"  and  make  it  the  order  of 
the  day  for  discussion,  it  was  taken  up.  The  discussions  were 
warm.  Two  bishops  of  the  Church  South  were  present,  and 
deeply  interested  spectators.  The  matter  consumed  two  hours 
before  being  settled.    It  was  at  last  claimed  that  it  was  in  the 


298 


MANUAL  OF 


same  sense  as  an  arbitration  between  two  parties,  and  hence 
could  not  be  reviewed.  As  a  last  action  the  General  Confer- 
ence adopted  very  wisely  the  following:  "Resolved,  That  we 
ivgard  the  action  of  the  Commission  on  Fraternity,  appointed 
by  the  bishops  by  order  of  the  last  General  Conference,  as 
final."  This  action  has  been  acquiesced  in  by  all  parties 
as  settling  some  very  vexed  questions  between  the  two  great 
Churches. 

Many  years  ago  the  Methodists  of  Washington,  D.  C,  and 
Metropolitan  Baltimore  Conference  planned  the  building  of  a 
church.  great  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Washington, 
which,  as  a  sort  of  cathedral,  should  be  a  rallying  place  for 
Methodists  from  all  parts  of  the  nation,  and  at  the  same  time 
be  a  representative  of  Methodism  at  the  highest  court  of  our 
country.  It  was  called  the  "Metropolitan  Church."  It  was 
conceived  on  a  gigantic  scale  and  involved  a  large  expenditure 
of  money.  It  was  indorsed  by  the  General  Conference,  and 
Rev.  Henry  Slieer,  D.D.,  of  Baltimore  Conference,  went  out  to 
the  Church  appealing  to  the  membership  for  money.  A  large 
sum  was  collected,  and  the  most  magnificent  Methodist  church 
at  the  time  was  erected.  But  it  cost  more  money  than  had 
been  collected.  A  debt  of  some  thirty-five  thousand  dollars 
was  carried  on  the  church  for  many  years.  Finally,  by  the  ex- 
ertions of  Rev.  Dr.  Newman,  and  especially  of  Rev.  Chaplain 
McCabe,  the  debt  was  extinguished. 

The  General  Conference  of  1876  ordered  the  bishops  to  lay 
out  a  course  of  study  for  local  preachers,  requiring 

Course    of  t  •'  1  t  71  « 

study  for  local  four  years  in  which  to  complete  it.    On  each  years 
work  the  local  preachers  were  required  to  pass  an 
examination  in  the  Quarterly  Conference.    Local  preachers 
already  ordained  were  exempted  from  the  examination.  It 
was  not  to  take  the  place  of  study  and  examination  for  orders. 
Dean  Stanley,  the  representative  of  English  ecclesiasticism 
in  its  best  sense,  visited  the  United  States  in  the  fall 

Dean  Stanley  7 

and  American  of  1878.  He  had  opened  the  way  for  the  erection 
Methodism.  ^  ^  tablet  to  the  memory  of  John  and  Charles  Wes- 
ley in  the  Poet's  Corner  of  Westminster  Abbey.    Thus,  at  last. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


290 


the  Anglican  Church  government  came  to  recognize  the  great 
founder  and  poet  of  Methodism.  When  Dean  Stanley  visited 
the  United  States  many  Methodists  were  moved  to  receive  him 
with  open  arms.  A  grand  reception  was  tendered  him  Novem- 
ber 1,  1878,  at  St.  Paul's  Church,  New  York.  Bishop  Harris 
presided.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Dr.  C.  D.  Foss.  Dr.  O.  II. 
Tiffany  made  the  opening  address.  Dr.  J.  M.  King  made  the 
presentation  address  to  Dean  Stanley,  to  which  he  replied  most 
beautifully  and  appropriately.  Bishop  Simpson  then  gave  one 
of  his  wonderful  and  soul-thrilling  addresses,  a  model  of  its 
kind.  While  the  great  audience  was  thus  moved  Bishop  Har- 
ris called  on  all  to  sing — 

"Blest  be  the  tie  that  binds 
Our  hearts  in  Christian  love," 

and  Dean  Stanley  pronounced  the  benediction. 

Bishop  Simpson  was  selected  by  the  faculty  of  Yale  College 
to  deliver  the  annual  course  of  lectures  on  preach- 
ing in  that  school.    They  were  delivered  in  Decern-  Conjectures 
her,  1878,  and  January,  1879.    There  were  ten  lect-  at  Yale  Co1- 

lege. 

urcs;  the  topics  selected  were  broad,  and  their 
treatment  was  excellent.  The  subjects  were :  The  Nature 
and  Work  of  the  Christian  Ministry;  The  Call  to  the  Ministry  ; 
The  Preacher  Personally  ;  Indirect  Preparation  for  the  Pulpit ; 
The  Preparation  of  a  Sermon;  The  Delivery  of  a  Sermon; 
Ministerial  Power;  The  Influence  of  the  Pastorate  on  the  Pul- 
pit ;  Collateral  and  Miscellaneous  Work  ;  Is  the  Modern  Pulpit 
a  Failure  ? 

The  atrocity  being  wrought  against  the  Chinese  by  the  Im- 
migrant Bill  was  sharply  and  strongly  criticised  by 
the  action  of  the  Preachers'  Meeting  in  New  York,  Methodist 
February  17,  1879.    This  body  clearly  said  that  the  ^^cgh 
u  bill  is  a  violation  of  the  treaty  now  existing  with  tne  Anti-cni- 

,  •         /•        •  -i     -i        •  T    •  neseBill. 

the  empire  ot  China,  and  that  it  proposes  to  do  m  a 
summary  manner,  which  must  be  offensive  to  a  friendly  nation, 
what  would  be  more  properly  effected  by  the  customary  notice 
of  a  desire  to  revise  existing  treaty  stipulations."    They  ex- 


300 


MANUAL  OF 


pressed  the  fear  that  the  step  would  endanger  all  the  American 
interests  in  China  and  make  painful  and  dangerous  the  position 
of  all  American  missionaries  in  China.  It  voiced  the  senti- 
ment of  the  great  heart  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  February  21,  1879,  departed  this  life  the  wife  of  Bishop 
Bowman,  her  beloved  husband  being  absent  in  India  Death  of  Mrs 
attending  the  Conferences  and  annual  mission  meet-  Bishop  Bow- 
ings in  that  far-off  land.  He  returned  to  America 
to  find  his  once  happy  home  broken  up  and  a  great  light 
gone  out. 

Dr.  Reuben  Nelson  was  the  senior  book  agent  at  New  York. 
Death  of  Reu-  He  was  a  native  of  Andes,  N.  Y.,  born  December  13, 
ben  Nelson.  1818>  jje  studied  at  Hartwick  Seminary  ;  was  con- 
verted when  fifteen  years  old,  and  entered  the  itinerant  ministry 
in  1838,  in  the  Oneida  Conference.  In  1844  he  founded  the 
Wyoming  Conference  Seminary  at  Kingston,  Pa.,  and  was  its 
first  principal.  This  position  he  held  for  twenty-eight  years, 
excepting  one  which  he  spent  as  presiding  elder.  Dr.  Nelson 
was  a  strong  preacher,  a  cultured  gentleman,  an  excellent  busi- 
ness man.  lie  died  February  20,  1879.  Sandford  Hunt,  D.D., 
was  elected  by  the  Book  Committee  on  March  3,  1879,  to  fill 
the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Dr.  Nelson. 

Bishop  Edward  R.  Ames,  D.D.,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
Death  of  m  Amesvillc,  Athens  Co.,  in  that  State,  May  20, 
Bishop  Ames.  1806>  jTe  completed  his  education  at  the  Ohio  Uni- 
versity, While  there  he  wTas  converted  and  united  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in  1827.  From  college  he  went 
to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  teaching.  He  entered  the  Illinois 
Conference  in  1830.  When  the  Indiana  Conference  was  formed 
he  fell  within  its  bounds.  In  1810  he  was  elected  a  missionary 
secretary.  In  1848  he  was  called  to  the  presidency  of  Indiana 
Asbury  [now  De  Pauw]  University,  but  declined.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Conferences  of  1840,  1844,  and  1852. 
In  the  stormy  slavery  times  he  was  a  strong  adherent  of  the 
Church,  and  opposed  the  secession.  In  1852  he  was  elected  a 
bishop,  and  served  faithfully  and  acceptably  up  to  his  decease. 
During  the  civil  war  Bishop  Ames  was  frequently  called  to 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  301 


the  AVhite  House  in  conference  with  President  Lincoln.  He 
was  wise  in  counsels  and  strong  in  action.  When  offered  im- 
portant positions  in  the  government  he  declined  them  because 
of  the  higher  claim  of  the  Church.  He  died  in  Baltimore, 
April,  1879. 

Daniel  Drew  wras  a  leading  business  man  of  the  city  of  New 
York.  He  was  a  native  of  Carmel,  JS".  Y.,  and  was  Death  of  Dan- 
born  July  29,  1797.  Early  left  dependent  upon  his  ielDrew- 
own  energies,  he  became  a  cattle-dealer,  and  later  was  inter- 
ested in  steam-boats  and  railroads,  and  a  heavy  stock  buyer, 
lie  amassed  a  fortune.  When  in  middle  life  he  became  a 
member  of  the  Mulberry  Street  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  the  founder  of  the  Drew  Theological  Seminary  at  Mad- 
ison, ~N.  J.,  and  of  the  Drew  Ladies'  Seminary  at  Carmel,  Y. 
He  was  a  liberal  contributor  to  all  the  church  enterprises. 
While  not  a  scholar  himself,  he  had  the  happy  faculty  of  draw- 
ing to  himself  those  who  were  cultured.  Among  these  we  may 
especially  note  Dr.  John  McClintock.  In  all  he  gave  to  the 
Drew  Theological  Seminary  about  seven  hundred  and  fifty 
thousand  dollars.    His  death  occurred  September  18,  1879. 

Bishop  Gilbert  Haven,  D.D.,  was  a  native  of  Maiden,  Mass. ; 
born  September  19,  1821.  His  parents  were  Meth-  Death  of 
odists,  and  trained  him  in  that  faith.  When  a  lad  he  Bishop  gu- 
attended  as  a  pupil  the  Wilbraham  Academy,  and  bert  Haven# 
was  converted  while  there  in  1839.  He  was  graduated  at  Wes- 
leyan  University  in  1846.  From  this  until  1851  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching.  In  1851  he  joined  the  New  England  Con- 
ference. When  the  war  broke  out  he  became  the  chaplain  of 
the  Eighth  Massachusetts  Regiment.  His  was  the  first  com- 
mission issued  after  the  war  began.  In  1867  he  was  editor  of 
Ziorfs  Herald,  and  in  1872  was  made  a  bishop.  His  duties 
took  him  to  the  Mexican  missions  in  1873,  and  to  Africa  in 
1876-77,  where  he  held  the  Liberia  Conference.  The  pen  of 
Bishop  Haven  was  facile.  He  had  thoughts,  and  could  put 
them  on  paper  so  that  men  read  them  with  delight.  He  was 
the  author  of  The  Pilgrim? s  Wallet,  National  Sermons,  Life 
of  Father  Taylor,  the  Sailor  Preacher,  and  Our  Next-Door 


302 


MANUAL  OF 


Neighbor  ;  or,  A  Winter  in  Mexico.  His  death  was  triumph- 
ant.   It  occurred  at  Maiden,  Mass.,  January  3,  1S80. 

The  Metkodlit  Advocate,  that  liad  been  published  by  order 
Methodist  °^  General  Conference  at  Atlanta,  Ga  ,  since  1808, 
Advocate  at   had  been  a  financial  loss.     Consequently  the  book 

Atlanta  . 

agents  in  1883  suspended  its  publication.  Soon  after 
its  suspension  the  Chattanooga  Methodist  Advocate  was  started 
as  an  independent  religious  paper,  Dr.  Carter  being  its  editor, 
which  has  met  with  favor  and  a  fair  amount  of  success. 

Dr.  Robert  L.  Dashiell  was  born  at  Salisbury,  McL,  June.  1 S26. 

He  was  educated  at  Dickinson  College,  graduating 

Dr.  Dashiell.  °  '  ft  s 

in  1846.  In  1848  he  joined  the  Baltimore  Conference, 
and  was  transferred  to  the  Newark  Conference  in  1860.  In  1868 
he  was  president  of  Dickinson  College.  In  1872  he  was  elected  a 
missionary  secretary,  and  re-elected  in  1ST6.  In  this  field  Dr. 
Dashiell  was  a  faithful  and  successful  officer,  and  his  presence 
and  power  were  felt  in  every  part  of  the  Church  in  awakening 
an  interest  in  the  missionary  cause.  Ilis  death  resulted  from  a 
cancer,  which  was  removed  by  the  surgeon's  knife,  but  his 
system  was  too  depleted  for  recovery.  Dr.  Dashiell  was  a 
strong  man,  a  devoted  worker  in  Christ's  vineyard,  an  eloquent 
preacher,  and  a  fast  friend.  He  died  March  8,  1880,  too  young 
to  have  developed  all  that  was  in  him. 

The  quadrennium  was  one  of  great  peace  in  Zion,  and  suc- 
Revivais  and  cess  in  every  department  of  the  Church.  Church- 
increase.  building  had  been  a  notable  field  of  great  growth. 
The  Church  all  over  the  land  had  added  many  new  and  costly 
edifices,  and  Methodist  Church  architecture  was  assuming 
distinct  characters.  The  Church  had  discovered  that  in  order 
to  meet  the  needs  of  Methodist  worship  and  teaching  the  old 
styles  of  building  no  longer  serve  the  purpose.  There  must 
be  an  adaptation  of  the  house  to  its  intended  uses;  the  class- 
meetings,  Sunday-school,  prayer-meetings,  and  public  services 
must  have  something  to  meet  the  demands  of  each.  Splendid 
churches  had  been  erected  at  Akron  and  Cincinnati,  O. ;  Mt. 
Vernon,  at  Baltimore  ;  the  Metropolitan,  at  Washington,  D.  C. ; 
Meridian  and  Roberts  Park,  at  Indianapolis;  at  Morristown. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


303 


N.  J. ;  Christ  Church,  at  Pittsburg;  Grace  Church,  at  Wilming- 
ton. Del.,  besides  fine  churches  in  Cleveland,  St.  Paul,  Chicago, 
Detroit,  New  York,  Boston,  and  elsewhere. 

Great  revivals  had  visited  the  Church  during  the  quadren- 
ninm  ending  1S80,  the  returns  for  that  year  being  11,630 
traveling  preachers,  12,475  local  preachers,  and  1,700,302  mem- 
bers and  probationers — an  increase  of  713  traveling  preachers 
and  of  119,743  members.  At  the  close  of  the  quadrenniuin 
there  were  10,955  churches,  and  5,089  parsonages,  valued  at 
$70,955,509.  This  was  an  increase  u  in  the  number  of  churches 
of  1,322,  or  more  than  one  church  for  every  working-day  in  the 
four  years ;  and  an  increase  of  072  parsonages,  or  more  than 
one  for  every  two  days  in  the  same  period." 

In  Sunday-schools  there  was  a  corresponding  progress.  There 
were  19,106  schools,  with  200,013  officers  and  teach-  sunday- 
ers,  and  1,398,731  scholars.  There  were  280,805  sch00ls- 
conversions  ill  the  four  years.  The  advanced  methods  of  Bible 
study  introduced  into  the  schools,  the  Internat;onal  Lessons, 
and  the  great  assemblies  held  in  the  interests  of  the  Sunday- 
school  work,  together  with  the  renewed'  consecration  to  the 
cause,  had  much  to  do  with  this  advance. 

In  the  missionary  field  the  Church  had  abundant  reason  to 
be  thankful  on  viewing  the  results.    The  South  India 

*r>  i    i  Missions. 

Conference  was  organized  m  1870,  and  soon  extended 
its  borders  into  Rangoon,  Burmah,  closing  the  quaclrennium 
with  37  traveling,  45  local  preachers,  and  2,109  members.  In 
Japan  and  China  the  results  were  excellent.  North  and  Cen- 
tral China  Missions  also  gave  evidences  of  satisfactory  growth. 
In  Italy  Dr.  Yernon  had  gathered  around  him  sixteen  good  and 
strong  native  Methodist  preachers,  who  were  giving  full  proof 
of  their  ministry.  In  Germany,  Denmark,  Norway,  and  Swe- 
den inviting  fields  were  opening.  Mexico,  one  of  the  most 
difficult  portions  for  missionary  work,  yielded  signs  of  a  harvest. 
The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  had  sent  missionaries 
to  India,  China,  Japan,  Mexico,  and  South  America. 

Truly,  God  has  blessed  Methodism  and  her  plans  for  evan- 
gelizing the  world. 


301 


MANUAL  OF 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1880 — EVENTS  FOLLOWING. 

On  a  bright  May  morning  in  1880  the  delegates  elected 
assembled  in  Pike's  Opera  House,  in  the  Queen  City  of  the 
West,  Cincinnati,  O.,  to  hold  the  eighteenth  delegated  and 
twenty-fourth  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  The  bishops  were  all  present,  namely,  Scott,  Simp- 
son, Bowman,  Harris,  Foster,  Wiley,  Merrill,  Andrews,  and 
Peck.  During  the  cjuadrennium  Bishop  Janes,  the  sweet-spir- 
ited and  gentle  senior ;  Bishop  Ames,  the  strong,  common-sense 
statesman  ;  and  Bishop  Haven,  the  versatile,  genial,  daring  min- 
ister, had  gone.  A  fragrance  of  splendid  memory  lingered 
about  their  names  and  places.  The  Conference  was  composed 
of  218  ministerial  and  151  lay  delegates,  making  399  members. 

Among  the  ministerial  delegates  every  grade,  rank,  and  de- 
partment of  ministerial  talent  and  attainment  was  represented. 
Among  the  lay  delegates  were  representatives  from  all  the 
learned  professions  and  from  many  callings  and  occupations. 
The  ages  of  the  delegates  greatly  varied — from  thirty  years  up 
to  seventy -five..  The  complexion  was  strongly  marked.  The 
white  predominated,  but  the  colored,  or  negro,  wTas  largely  and 
well  represented.  India  sent  Babo  Ram  Chandra  Bose,  a  na- 
tive Hindu,  a  scholar  and  philosopher.  Germany  and  Switzer- 
land sent  Ludwig  Nippert.  Martin  Hansen  came  from  Nor- 
way ;  J.  M.  Thoburn  from  South  India.  From  Liberia  came 
James  S.  Payne,  a  native  of  the  African  coast.  Bengt  A.  Carl- 
son represented  the  new  but  vigorous  Swedish  Conference. 

1.  A  superior  paper  was  presented  by  the  bishops  and  read 
Bishops' ad-  by  Bishop  Simpson.  It  placed  in  a  crystallized  form 
dress.  ti,e  W01fc  0f  the  Churcli  for  the  past  qnadrennium, 

and  enabled  the  Conference  at  a  glance  to  see  where  Methodism 
stood.    It  recounted  the  travels  of  Bishop  Andrews  to  hold  the 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  305 


Conference  of  Germany  and  Switzerland  and  his  organization 
of  the  Annual  Conferences  of  Sweden  and  Norway,  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  missions  in  Denmark  and  Bulgaria,  the  state  of 
the  North  India  and  South  India  Conferences,  and  the  meeting 
of  the  missionaries  in  Italy;  of  the  visit  of  Bishop  Haven  to 
Africa;  of  that  of  Bishop  Wiley  to  Japan  and  China,  and  the 
formation  of  the  Foochow  Annual  Conference  in  December, 
1877;  also  of  Bishop  Bowman  visiting  Europe  and  India,  hold- 
ing those  Conferences  with  great  profit  to  the  Church. 

Bishops  Merrill  and  Harris  visited  the  missions  in  Mexico. 
The  bishops  reported  the  forming  the  North-wTest 

1         1  to  North-west 

Swedish  Conference  out  of  the  Swedish  charges  in  Swedish  con- 
Central  Illinois  and  Minnesota  Conferences  in  1876.  ference* 
This  movement  unified  the  Swedish  work  and  made  the  minis- 
terial supply  much  easier. 

The  Western  New  York  and  East  Genesee  Conferences  had 
united  during  the  quadrennium,  though  without  an  conferences 
enabling  act  so  to  do.  The  General  Conference  united, 
sanctioned  this  act.  This  set  a  precedent  by  which  contiguous 
Conferences  may  unite  in  the  interim  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, even  if  there  has  not  been  provided  an  enabling  act..  The 
address  gave  a  full  review  of  the  connectional  interests^  of  the 
Church.  The  propositions  to  change  the  second  and  Propoged 
third  restrictive  rules  had  not  received  the  constitu-  change  of  sec- 
tional approval  of  the  Annual  Conferences.  Hence:  restrictive 
both  propositions  were  lost.  rules  lost. 

It  was  recommended  by  the  bishops,  1.  To  extend1  the  period 

of  probation  in  an  Annual  Conference  to  four  years..  Recommenda. 

2.  That  the  matter  of  preachers  retiring  to  enter  sec-  tions  by  the 

ular  pursuits,  and  when  these  are  a  failure  returning,  blshops' 

to  the  Conference  and  demanding  work,  be  carefully  considered 

and  relief  provided.    3.  To  define  the  position  of  the  Church 

regarding  ministers  entering  the  political  field  and  becoming 

candidates  for  office.    4.  To  inquire  as  to  what  can  be  done  to 

advance  Methodism  in  the  cities.     5.  To  determine1  whether 

there  ought  to  be  some  extension  to  the  time-  limit  to  meet 

"  cases  of  great  exigency  "  for  a  longer  pastoral  term..    G..  That 
21 


306 


MANUAL  OF 


there  should  be  no  change  i:i  the  presiding  eldership.  The 
bishops  add :  "  We  desire  to  express  our  firm  and  deliberate 
judgment  that  the  presiding  eldership  is  essential,  in  a  Church 
constituted  as  is  ours,  to  the  efficiency  of  the  itinerancy,  and  to 
the  uniformity  of  the  administration." 

2.  On  the  third  morning  of  the  General  Conference  it  was 
„  ,    a       announced  that  one  of  its  members,  Dr.  John  Ii. 

Murder  of  Dr.  ^  7 

John b. Good-  Goodwin,  a  lay  delegate  of  South-east  Indiana  Con- 
ference, had  suddenly  died.  He  had  been  brutally 
shot,  from  which  he  died  in  a  few  hours,  by  a  brother  crazed 
with  alcohol.  This  occurred  at  Brookville,  Ind.  The  General 
Conference  appointed  four  laymen  to  attend  the  funeral  of  Dr. 
Goodwin  at  Brookville.  Dr.  Goodwin  was  a  native  of  Indiana, 
a  graduate  of  Indiana  Asbuiy  University,  a  graduate  in  medi- 
cine, a  trustee  of  the  university,  a  banker  at  Brookville,  Ind.,  a 
valuable  layman,  and  a  devoted  Christian.  On  his  death-bed 
he  requested  his  son  to  give  to  the  university  810,000,  which 
he  had  aimed  to  do  if  he  had  lived.  Dr.  Goodwin  was  a  good 
man,  and  fell  an  innocent  victim  to  the  demon  alcohol  he  had 
so  long  and  persistently  fought. 

3.  Among  the  questions  for  admission  into  Conference,  qnes- 
Tobaccoques-  ^on  ""Will  Jou  wholly  abstain  from  the  use  of 
tion-  tobacco  V]  was  new.  It  provoked  discussion.  Some 
speeches  were  strong  and  pertinent.  It  was  several  times  ex- 
pressed that  the  ministers  ought  to  be  of  a  "clean  mouth" 
physically,  as  well  as  pure  in  morals.  When  it  was  asked  what 
was  to  be  done  with  the  ministers  now  in  Conference  wdio  use 
tobacco,  it  was  replied,  "  Let  them  alone,  and  they  will  soon  die 
off.  Keep  the  young  men  coming  in  clean  from  the  use  of  the 
weed."  The  Board  of  Education  refused  to  loan  money  for  the 
purpose  of  acquiring  an  education  to  a  man  who  uses  tobacco. 
The  indications  are  that  the  next  generation  of  preachers,  from 
bishops  down,  will  be  free  from  the  habit  of  using  tobacco. 

4.  There  were  four  men  elected  and  consecrated  bishops, 
Bishops  namely,  Henry  W.  Warren,  D.D.,  pastor  of  Spring 
elected.  Garden  Street  Church,  Philadelphia;  Cyrus  D.  Foss, 
D.D.,  president  of  Wesleyan  University;  John  F.  Hurst,  D.D., 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  307 


LL.D.,  president  of  Drew  Theological  Seminary  ;  and  Eras- 
tus  O.  Haven,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  chancellor  of  Syracuse  University., 
They  were  consecrated  May  19,  1880. 

5.  At  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  1876  plans  were  laid  and  arrangements 
made  for  the  holding  of  an  "  Ecumenical  Conference  ^th^Ecu- 
of  Methodism."    It  was  thought  that  as  the  different  Inenical  Con- 

for6nc6» 

branches  of  Methodism  in  the  United  States,  and 
Great  Britain  and  its  possessions,  hold  to  the  "Arminian  theol- 
ogy, and  maintain  usages  which  distinguish  them  to  some  ex- 
.  tent  from  every  other  denomination  of  Christians,"  it  would  be 
greatly  to  the  advantage  of  our  common  Methodism  to  hold  an 
Ecumenical  Conference.  A  strong  committee  of  bishops,  min- 
isters, and  laymen  was  appointed  to  consider  and  execute  such 
an  undertaking.  Bishop  Simpson  was  the  chairman.  They 
corresponded  with  various  Methodist  bodies  in  the  world,  and 
received  answers  pledging  all  their  Churches  to  a  hearty  co- 
operation in  this  matter. 

The  committee  reported  to  the  General  Conference  of  1880. 
They  also  presented  the  action  of  the  joint  committee  making 
the  call  for  a  council.  The  call  was  made  for  August,  1881,  at 
City  Road  Chapel,  London.  In  the  call  were  six  suggestions 
of  great  practical  value:  1.  The  Conference  is  not  for  legisla- 
tive purposes.  2.  It  will  consider  certain  matters  vital  to  all 
Methodism,  namely,  the  duty  of  Methodism  in  respect  to  pop- 
ery, paganism,  pauperism,  skepticism,  intemperance,  and  kin- 
dred vices;  education  ;  means  of  evangelization  ;  Methodism  as  a 
missionary  movement ;  use  of  the  press ;  resources  of  Method- 
ism ;  the  spiritual  unity  of  Methodism,  and  such  other  topics  as 
may  suggest  themselves  as  of  importance  to  the  Church.  3.  The 
membership  of  the  council  shall  be  four  hundred.  Of  these 
two  hundred  are  assigned  to  British  and  Continental  Method- 
ism, and  two  hundred  to  the  United  States  and  Canada.  The 
delegates  shall  be  as  nearly  as  possible  equally  clerical  and 
lay.  4.  There  shall  be  a  general  executive  committee,  which 
shall  have  charge  of  the  details  of  the  Ecumenical  Con- 
ference.    5.  Each  Methodist  body  to  arrange  for  the  ap- 


308 


MANUAL  OF 


pointment  of  its  own  delegates  during  that  calendar  year. 
6.  Each  Methodist  body  to  provide  for  the  expenses  of  its  own 
members. 

6.  The  elaborate  report  of  the  Book  Committee  showed  the 
Publishing  financial  standing  of  the  Book  Concerns  of  the  Church, 
interests.  ^t  t]ie  Eastern  House  the  sales  were  82.650.236.07 — 
an  increase  in  the  quadrennium  of  $213,192.93 ;  but  at  Buffalo, 
Boston,  Pittsburg,  and  San  Francisco  there  was  a  total  of  sales 
of  but  8764,780.68— a  decrease  of  $13,788.75.  The  greatest 
shrinkage  was  at  Boston. 

At  Cincinnati  the  sales  were  $1,574,991.19 — a  decrease  of 
$150,701.05.  At  Chicago,  St.  Louis,  and  Atlanta  the  sales 
were  $1,100,134.63— a  decrease  of  $4,269.80. 

Combining  the  accounts,  the  sales  at  Xew  York  and  the 
Eastern  House  depositories  were  $3,415,016.75  ;  at  the  West- 
ern House  and  its  depositories,  $2,675,125.82;*  total  amount, 
$6,090,142.57,  which  was  an  increase  of  $44,433.33  over  the 
previous  quadrennium. 

The  assets  of  the  Concerns  were: 

At  New  York   81,080,568  36 

At  Cincinnati   474,178  47 

Total   $1,554,746  83 

It  is  not  possible  to  estimate  the  power  of  this  Methodist 
Christian  literature.  It  is  going  out  to  all  the  earth.  It  ought 
to  be  greatly  increased. 

7.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  at  this  time  was 

woman's  For  on^  e^even  Jears  °f  age>  Dut  its  growth  was  phe- 
eign  Mission-  nomenal.  It  did  not  reduce  the  collections  of  the 
ary  society.  parent  board;  "but  increased  them.  The  society  occu- 
pied fields  within  the  missions  of  the  parent  board,  supplement- 
ing that  strong  arm  of  service.  In  the  four  years  closing  w^ith 
May,  1880,  the  society  collected  and  disbursed  $278,874.54.  Of 
this  sum  $31,000  was  put  into  buildings  in  foreign  fields  nec- 
essary for  the  carrying  on  of  the  work  most  efficiently.  The 

*  Of  this  sum  $340,059.49  were  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  German  publi- 
cations. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  309 


society  had  sent  out  twenty-six  single  ladies  as  missionaries,  and 
nearly  two  hundred  native  women  were  employed,  mostly  as 
Bible  readers.  The  Zenana  work  in  India  had  greatly  devel- 
oped. The  society  had  at  that  time  seven  boarding-schools,  more 
than  one  hundred  day-schools,  and  numerous  Sunday-schools. 

In  Bareilly,  Lucknow,  and  Paori,  in  India;  in  Peking,  Kiu- 
kiang,  and  Foochow,  in  China ;  in  Mexico,  Japan,  Africa,  Bul- 
garia, and  Italy  this  noble  society  had  able  representatives  well 
supported  and  doing  a  wonderful  work  for  Jesus.  While  this 
society  had  not  had  large  contributions,  nor  salaried  agents 
traversing  the  continent,  preaching,  addressing  great  concourses 
of  people,  they  had  a  steady  stream  of  mites  flowing  in,  and  the 
treasury  was  supplied.  Peter's  pence  is  the  glory  of  Rome. 
The  two  cents  a  week  is  the  glory  of  the  "Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  when  they  are  baptized  with  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  answer  to  the  prayers  that  accompany  these  contri- 
butions. 

8.  In  the  report  of  the  Sunday-School  Union  to  the  General 
Conference  occurs  a  clear  statement  of  the  purpose 

+  m  Chautauqua. 

oi  the  Chautauqua  movement :  "  lhe  whole  Chau- 
tauqua scheme  is  but  the  realization  on  a  very  large  scale  of 
Mr.  Wesley's  own  theory  concerning  secular  education,  and  of 
his  plan  for  promoting  it  among  the  humblest  people.  The 
Chautauqua  Literary  and  Scientific  Circle,  with  its  membership 
of  seventeen  thousand,  pledged  to  a  four  years'  course  of  study, 
is  a  permanent  plan  of  public  culture  for  parents,  for  Sunday- 
school  teachers,  for  young  people  who  have  lacked  early  oppor- 
tunities, for  busy  people  who  need  intellectual  food,  who  will 
find  recreation  in  change  of  thought  and  occupation,  for  all  of 
whom  no  provision  is  made  by  the  schools." 

The  report  furthermore  continues :  "  The  heart  of  the  whole 
Chautauqua  idea  is  Methodistical.  It  was  organized  by  Method- 
ists, on  a  Methodist  camp-ground.  Its  charter  recognizes  its 
denominational  origin  and  fealty.  A  majority  of  its  board  are 
and  must  be  Methodists  :  but  Chautauqua  has  opened  its  broad 
doors  to  every  other  Christian  Church  and  placed  the  repre- 
sentatives of  all  evangelical  doctrines  on  its  platform,  allowed 


310 


MANUAL  OF 


different  schools  of  thought  to  discuss  their  distinctive  opinions 
face  to  face  with  those  who  differed  from  them,  encouraged 
the  holding  of  separate  denominational  Sunday  school  con- 
gresses on  its  own  grounds,  introduced  some  of  the  strongest 
thinkers  of  our  own  Church  to  Churches  outside,  and  intro- 
duced to  Methodist  people  some  of  the  strongest  thinkers  from 
other  Churches,  thus  admirably  illustrating  the  true  basis  of 
Christian  union ;  not  a  union  of  persons  who  ignore  their  doc- 
trinal and  denominational  peculiarities,  but  of  persons  who,  in- 
tensely and  uncompromisingly  loyal  to  their  own,  join  hands 
with  others  in  worship,  in  thoughtful,  honest  discussion,  and 
in  practical  co-operation  against  the  powers  of  evil  that  are  in 
the  world,  seeking  thereby  the  true  unity  of  the  Church,  for 
which  the  great  Master  prayed. 

9.  John  M.  Phillips  and  Sandford  Hunt  were  elected  book 
agents  at  New  York ;  John  M.  Walden  and  William 
P.  Stowe  agents  at  Cincinnati;  Daniel  D.  Whedon 
was  elected  editor  of  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Review  and  books 
of  the  general  catalogue;  James  M.  Buckley,  editor  of  The  Chris- 
tian Advocate  J  John  H.  Vincent,  of  Sunday-school  publica- 
tions and  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Sunday-School  Union 
and  Tract  Society ;  Orris  II.  Warren,  of  the  Northern  Chris- 
tian Advocate;  Alfred  Wheeler,  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian 
Advocate  /  Francis  S.  Hoyt,  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate  / 
William  Nast,  of  Per  Christliche  Apologete  •  Henry  Liebhart, 
of  Ilaus  und  Herd y  Arthur  Edwards,  of  the  North-western 
Christian  Advocate y  Benjamin  St.  James  Fry,  of  the  Central 
Christian  Advocate  y  Benjamin  F.  Crary,  of  the  California 
Christian  Advocate  y  Erasmus  Q.  Fuller,  of  the  Methodist  Ad- 
vocate y  and  Joseph  C.  Hartzell,  of  the  South-western  Christian 
Advocate.  John  M.  Reid  and  Charles  II.  Fowler  were  elected 
corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Missionary  Society  ;  Alpha  J. 
Kynett,  of  the  Board  of  Church  Extension ;  Richard  S.  Rust, 
of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society;  and  Daniel  P.  Kidder,  of  the 
Board  of  Education.  The  Pacific  Christian  Advocate  was  dis- 
continued as  a  General  Conference  publication,  and  its  publish- 
ing committee  was  permitted  to  publish  it  at  their  own  risk. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  311 


In  May,  1831,  a  charter  was  granted  for  the  founding  of  a 
school  of  high  grade  to  he  known  as  "The  Wesleyan  semi-centen- 
University."  A  board  of  trustees  had  been  ap-  gJ^JJJJJ; 
pointed  the  year  before,  and  these  met  August  24,  sifcy- 
1830.  Before  the  close  of  1831  the  school  was  formally  opened. 
Dr.  Wilbur  Fisk  was  president.  On  his  death,  in  1839,  Dr. 
Stephen  Olin  was  elected  president,  but  on  account  of  absence 
abroad  and  ill-health  he  did  not  enter  on  its  duties,  and  re- 
signed in  February,  1841.  This  university  has  made  a  good 
record.  Some  of  the  greatest  names  in  the  Church  have  been 
graduated  at  the  Wesleyan.  The  semi-centennial  celebration 
of  the  university  was  held  on  June  29,  1881.  For  an  excellent 
historical  address  on  this  occasion,  made  by  Bev.  James  M. 
King,  D.D.,  see  The  Christian  Advocate,  September  1,  1881, 
page  547. 

The  missionaries  in  Mexico,  knowing  the  power  of  music  in 
the  realm  of  Christianity  and  the  Church,  in  the  New  Spanish 
early  part  of  1881  published  a  hymnal  in  Spanish.  Hymnal- 
It  was  entitled  Ilimnario  de  la  Iglesia  Mctodista  Episcopal. 
It  was  prepared  under  the  care  of  Dr.  William  Butler.  The 
hymns  are  chiefly  translations  from  well-known  authors,  in- 
terspersed with  some  original  poems.  There  are  no  uncertain 
doctrines  taught,  but  a  pure  Christianity  from  the  Methodist 
stand-point  is  here  sung.  The  singing  of  theology  in  Spanish 
will  do  the  same  good  as  when  sung  in  English  or  any  other 
language. 

The  attention  of  the  Church  having  been  called  through 
The   Christian  Advocate   to  hospital  work,  Mr. 

1  7  Proposed  gen- 

George  I.  Seney  sent  Dr.  Buckley,  the  editor,  a  erai  Method- 
pledge  of  $200,000  to  fuund  a  Methodist  general  isth0SpitaL 
hospital,  afterward  increasing  the  amount  to  $410,000.  The 
Church  has  since  given  $300,000  more,  and  the  hospital, 
opened  in  Brooklyn,  December  15,  1887,  is  in  successful 
operation,  and  has  attained  a  high  reputation. 

The  preliminary  steps  for  the  holding  of  the  first  Methodist 
Ecumenical  Conference  were  taken  in  the  General  Conference 
of  1876.    Chancellor  E.  O.  Haven  suggested  that  the  most  suit- 


312 


MANUAL  OF 


able  place  for  the  gathering  was  City  Road  Chapel,  London. 
Methodist  ^t  required  a  large  amount  of  correspondence  among 
Ecumenical  the  Methodist  organizations  in  the  world  in  order 

Conference  in  ^ 

session  at  city  to  arrange  ior  such  a  Pan-Methodist  assembly.  The 
Road  chapel.  var[ous  branches  of  the  Methodist  family  entered 
heartily  into  the  plan. 

The  Committee  of  Arrangements,  after  most  carefully  sur- 
veying the  field,  decided  what  topics  were  most  needful  to  the 
interests  of  a  world-wide  Methodism,  and  so  assigned  them  to 
competent  parties  to  prepare  papers  and  addresses. 

The  following  Churches  of  Methodism  were  represented, 
namely  :  Wesleyan  Methodist,  Irish  Methodist,  Metliodist  New 
Connexion,  Primitive  Methodist,  Bible  Christian,  United  Meth- 
odist Free  Churches,  Wesleyan  Reform  Union,  United  Free 
Gospel  Churches,  French  Methodist,  and  Australian  Methodist 
Church.  These  were  all  in  Great  Britain  excepting  the  last 
two,  and  all  were  known  as  in  the  Eastern  Section.  In  the 
Western  Section,  including  Canada,  were  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church,  South, 
the  Metliodist  Protestant  Church,  the  Evangelical  Association, 
the  United  Brethren,  the  American  Wesleyan  Church,  the  Free 
Methodist  Church,  the  Primitive  Methodist  Church  in  the 
United  States,  the  Independent  Metliodist,  Congregational 
Metliodist,  African  Methodist  Episcopal,  African  Methodist 
Episcopal  Zion,  Colored  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church  of 
America,  Metliodist  Church  of  Canada,  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Canada,  Primitive  Metliodist  Church  of  Canada, 
Canadian  Bible  Christians,  and  British  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Canada,  being  eighteen  different  bodies  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  and  ten  in  the  Eastern  Section, 
making  twenty-eight  different  branches  of  the  Methodist 
family  of  Christians.  Here  were  the  representatives  of  nearly 
six  million  communicants  in  Methodism  and  of  a  population  of 
twenty -five  million  people,  all  gathered  into  Church  relations 
since  1739. 

The  first  session  wTas  held  in  City  Road,  London,  Wednesday, 
September  7,  1881.    After  the  opening .  exercises,  which  were 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  813 

conducted  by  Rev.  George  Osborn,  D.D.,  president  of  the  Brit- 
ish Weslcyan  Conference,  Bishop  Matthew  Simpson  delivered 
one  of  his  grandest  and  most  powerful  sermons  from  the  text, 
"  The  words  that  I  speak  unto  you,  they  are,  spirit,  and  they 
are  life."  This  sermon  was  followed  by  the  sacrament  of  the 
Lord's  Supper,  in  which  this  great  representative  body  of 
Christian  ministers  and  laymen  from  all  parts  of  the  world 
participated. 

The  themes  presented  and  discussed  during  the  session  of 
the  Conference  were  numerous  and  wide-reaching,  embracing 
almost  every  topic  of  general  interest  to  Methodism.  The  ' 
varied  topics  were  thoroughly  considered  in  essays,  addresses, 
and  brief  discussions  by  men  who  had  carefully  studied  them. 
As  literary  productions  they  may  be  read  with  profit,  while 
as  exponents  of  Methodist  doctrine,  usage,  and  spirit  they  are 
worthy  of  study. 

The  first  session  of  the  Ecumenical  Conference  was  held 
September  7,  and  sessions  were  continued  by  adjournment 
from  day  to  day  to  the  afternoon  of  September  20. 

On  the  evening  of  September  15,  1881,  in  Exeter  Hall,  Lon- 
don, was  held  a  Fraternal  Meeting,  at  which  time  and  place 
delegates  from  other  Christian  bodies  were  received.  Bishop 
Simpson  presided  over  «the  Conference.  Delegates  were  re- 
ceived from  the  "Pan-Presbyterian  Council,"  the  Presby- 
terian Church  of  England,  the  United  Brethren  Church,  the 
Baptist  Churches  of  Great  Britain,  Congregational  Churches 
of  England,  and  British  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the 
Gospel  among  the  Jews.  The  gentlemen,  ministers  and  lay- 
men, who  were  members  of  these  delegations  were  large- 
hearted  men,  of  learning,  culture,  and  piety.  They  evidenced 
that  Christian  union  and  Christian  success  were  not  dependent 
upon  organic  unity,  but  on  the  unity  of  the  faith  in  the  bond 
of  the  Spirit. 

The  press  of  England  generally  commented  favorably  on 
the  Ecumenical  Conference.  The  articles  were  as  varied  in 
character  as  the  editors  of  the  papers.  One  editor  or  corre- 
spondent saw  one  excellence,  another  took  a  different  view, 


MANUAL  OF 


but  all  saw  the  excellences,  growth,  virtue,  and  power  of  Meth- 
odism ;  all  prognosticated  a  grand  future.  The  London  Times, 
that  old  conservative  sheet,  contrasted  it  with  the  Pan-Angli- 
can Synods  at  Lambeth.  As  to  the  question  of  the  absorption 
of  Methodism  into  the  Anglican  Church,  the  Times  said  it 
would  be  impossible  now.  If  it  were  once  absorbed  it  would 
furnish  the  elements  of  "another  vast  internal  convulsion," 
which  in  a  short  time  would  a^ain  burst  out. 

The  Daily  Chronicle  spoke  of  the  marvelous  growth  of 
Methodism  in  all  lines.  This  was  evidenced  in  the  circum- 
stance that  the  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  Mr.  McArthur.  was  an 
ardent  Methodist,  and  the  son  of  a  Methodist  minister,  and  his 
wife,  the  Lady  Mayoress,  was  the  daughter  of  another  Wesleyan 
Methodist  minister.  Said  the  editor,  "  This  wondrous  system — 
Methodism — is  of  comparatively  recent  growth,  and  there  is  no 
sign  of  lessened  vitality." 

These  are  but  samples  of  the  attention  called  to  Methodism 
in  Great  Britain  by  this  first  Ecumenical  Methodist  Conference. 
To  it  the  eyes  of  millions  were  turned.  From  it  went  out 
living  forces  which,  refreshed  by  the  Spirit  and  quickened  by 
communion,  should  do  more  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  sal- 
vation of  immortal  souls  than  hitherto. 

A  Methodist  preacher  in  Chicago,  Rev.  II.  "W.  Thomas,  D.D., 
The  Thomas  a  member  of  the  Rock  River  Conference,  had  for 
tnai.  several  years  been  charged  by  hearers  with  preaching 

heresy.  At  last  charges  of  heresy  were  preferred  against  him, 
which  were  investigated  before  a  committee,  and  he  was  sus- 
pended until  the  session  of  his  Conference.  At  the  Conference 
of  1881  he  was  formally  put  on  trial,  found  guilty,  and  expelled 
from  the  ministry  and  membership  of  the  Church. 

Dr.  Thomas  was  ably  defended  by  legal  and  clerical  counsel, 
while  their  equal  as  counsel  was  retained  on  the  side  of  the 
Church.  The  case  was  examined  in  all  its  phases.  The  ques- 
tions involved  were  :  1.  "  Is  it  right  to  exclude  a  minister  from 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  preaching  contrary  to  its 
fundamental  principles  ? "  The  Church  settled  that  in  its 
organization  by  teaching  that  it  is  right.    2.  "  Has  Dr.  Thomas 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  315 


preached  against  any  of  the  essential  principles  of  Methodism  ?  " 
The  committee  of  investigation  answered  that  he  had.  These 
two  points  being  settled,  there  could  be  no  other  result  than  his 
expulsion,  at  least  from  the  ministry. 

Dr.  Henry  Foster,  of  Clifton  Springs,  N.  Y.,  having  reached 
aline  somewhat  past  middle  life,  and  having  built  a  Methodist 
up  a  large  sanitarium,  determined  to  perpetuate  the  sanitarium, 
institution  by  presenting  it  to  trustees  mostly  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  with  Bishop  Simpson  at  the  head,  and  with 
the  provision  that  a  Methodist  bishop  should  always  fill  that 
position.  The  trustees  met  December  28,  1881,  and  accepted 
the  trust. 

Bishop  Scott  was  born  at  Odessa,  Del.,  October  11,  1802, 
and  died  at  the  same  place  July  13, 1882.  His  father  Deathof  Blsn. 
became  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  Conference  opscott. 
in  1803.  Bishop  Scott  was  converted  in  1822,  joined  the 
Philadelphia  Conference  in  1826,  in  1834  was  presiding  elder. 
In  1840,  at  the  solicitation  of  Dr.  Durbin,  he  accepted  the 
office  of  principal  of  Dickinson  Grammar  School,  Carlisle,  Pa. 
In  1848  he  was  elected  assistant  book  agent  at  ~New  York. 
In  1852  he  was  elected  bishop.  The  next  winter  he  went  to 
Africa  and  held  the  Liberia  Conference.  After  his  return  he 
suffered  from  the  effects  of  the  African  climate  for  many  years. 
Bishop  Scott  was  a  most  excellent  man,  a  gentleman  of  high 
character,  and  a  preacher  of  power.  In  the  councils  of  the 
Church  Bishop  Scott  was  a  man  of  great  influence. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1882,  the  independent  weekly 
newspaper  so  long  and  favorably  known  as  The  Purchase  of 
Methodist  was  purchased  by  Phillips  &  Hunt,  agents  The  Metuod- 
of  the  Book  Concern  at  New  York.  The  paper  had 
been  in  existence  twenty-two  years,  being  founded  in  1860. 
Its  first  editor  was  Dr.  George  P.  Crooks,  one  of  the  ablest  men 
in  Methodism.  When  projected  it  was  designed  to  meet  a  sup- 
posed wTant  in  Methodism,  namely,  a  high-grade  independent 
journal  to  advocate  some  supposed  needed  reforms.  It  strongly 
advocated  lay  representation,  some  modification  in  the  presid- 
ing eldership,  some  changes  in  class-meetings,  and  some  inci- 


316 


MANUAL  OF 


dental  modifications.  The  paper  was  well  managed  editorially. 
It  was  strong,  clear,  loyal  to  country  and  state.  Xo  question 
was  ruled  out  of  its  columns  that  in  any  way  bore  upon  the 
success  of  Methodism.  It  held  high  rank  and  exerted  great 
influence  in  the  connection. 

Bishop  Jesse  T.  Peck,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  one  of  the  strong  men 
Death  of  Bish-  °^  Methodism,  died  May  17, 1883,  at  Syracuse,  X".  Y. 
op  Peck.  jje  was  a  native  of  the  State,  being  burn  at  Middle- 
field,  April  4,  1811.  In  1832  he  joined  the  Oneida  Confer- 
ence. He  became  principal  of  Troy  Academy  in  1S41,  and 
president  of  Dickinson  College  in  1848.  He  went  back  to 
the  pastorate  in  1S52.  He  was  transferred  to  the  California 
Conference  in  1858,  and  remained  there  eight  years.  After  his 
return  east  he  was  largely  instrumental  in  founding  Syracuse 
University.  In  1872  he  was  elected  a  bishop.  As  a  preacher 
and  administrator  he  stood  in  the  front  ranks.  lie  was  a  warm 
and  genial  friend.  As  an  author  he  was  ''clear,  with  much 
power  of  elaboration."  Altogether  Bishop  Pock  was  a  man 
of  mark  and  power. 

Methodism,  by  her  Missionary  Board,  determined  on  a  care- 
ful visitation  of  all  the  missions  in  Europe  and  India 

Dr.  Reid's  vis-  .    *  1 

it  to  Eastern  by  one  of  the  missionary  secretaries  m  18S3.    Dr.  J. 

M.  Peid  was  sent.  He  visited  the  stations  in  Europe, 
saw  the  work  as  it  progressed,  and  sought  to  make  suggestions 
such  as  would  aid  the  cause  there,  and  give  the  board  a  better 
understanding  of  the  needs  of  the  missions.  As  to  the  Bulga- 
rian Mission,  Dr.  Peid  took  the  ground  "that  our  confessed 
failure  in  Bulgaria  is  chiefly  to  be  ascribed  to  our  evil  adminis- 
tration from  the  beginning." 

In  India  Dr.  Peid  attended  the  "convocation  of  missionaries 
of  all  denominations,  which  assembles  once  in  ten  years  to  dis- 
cuss the  work  of  God  throughout  the  empire."  After  visiting 
all  the  principal  Methodist  stations,  carefully  examining  the 
things  done  and  their  results,  he  summed  up  his  impressions  as 
follows :  1.  He  was  impressed  with  the  "  immensity  of  the  field 
and  how  much  has  been  done."  2.  With  the  great  amount  of 
real  estate  of  which  we  have  become  possessed,  "  all  of  which  is 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


317 


most  eligibly  situated,"  the  Methodists  having  acted  as  wisely 
in  this  respect  as  the  Roman  Catholics.  3.  By  the  employ- 
ment of  natives  by  the  Missionary  Society,  especially  by  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

Such  visits  by  the  officers  of  the  Missionary  Society  cannot 
but  prove  of  great  advantage  to  their  cause.  The  visit  also  of 
Dr.  Butler  to  India,  the  scene  of  his  early  labor,  and  of  the 
terrible  sufferings  of  the  Sepoy  rebellion,  did  not  fail  to  enlist 
great  interest  when,  on  his  return  to  America,  he  told  the  story 
of  what  he  had  seen,  and  the  marvelous  development  of  the 
work. 

The  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means  of  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety called  the  presiding  elders  of  fourteen  districts  A  Comraittee 
contiguous  to  New  York  to  meet  in  council.  They  of  the  Mission- 
met  at  the  residence  of  J.  B.  Cornell,  a  layman,  De-  and  me^pre- 
cember  19,  1883.     Bishop  Harris  presided.    The  sidin*  elders 

7  r  r  of  four  Con. 

New  York,  New  York  East,  Newark,  and  New  Jer-  ferences  meet 
sey  Conferences  were  represented.  Mr.  J.  B.  Cor-  for  counseL 
nell,  a  member  of  the  missionary  board,  presented,  in  seven 
interrogations,  the  design  of  the  board  in  asking  for  this  meet- 
ing. These  represented  the  necessities  of  the  work,  and  hinted 
strongly  at  methods  for  helping  to  extend  the  missionary  work. 

The  points  were  all  carefully  and  fully  discussed  by  the  pre- 
siding elders,  some  of  whom  were  veterans  in  the  work. 
Among  other  things  it  was  said  that  there  was  needed,  1.  More 
of  a  missionary  spirit  diffused  among  our  members,  so  that  each 
one  should  feel  the  burden  of  souls  upon  him.  2.  A  strong 
conviction  of  duty.  3.  A  stimulation  of  the  ministry  to  realize 
the  value  of  the  work  and  the  importance  of  hastening  to  its 
performance.  4.  The  need  of  a  human  inspiration  from  the 
missionary  secretaries.  5.  The  aim  to  be  the  conversion  of  the 
world.  6.  The  obligation  ministers  and  members  are  under  to 
keep  the  Discipline. 

The  Anglo-Chinese  college  movement,  in  the  interest  of 
higher  education  for  the  Chinese,  was  inaugurated  at  Angio-cni- 
Foochow,  China,  in  1881.  It  is  in  connection  with  nese  college- 
the  Foochow  Conference,  with  a  most  noble  object  in  view. 


31S 


MANUAL  OF 


The  missionaries  Lave  become  satisfied  that  a  move  must  be 
made  to  give  Christian  Chinamen  the  advantages  of  a  better 
education. 

In  1883  the  Gammon  Theological  Institute  was  founded  by 
Gammon  The-  -^ev*  ^-  H.  Gammon,  at  Atlanta,  Ga.  It  is  organ- 
ologies insti-  ized  under  the  charter  of  the  Clark  University, 
tute.  .    .  T  . 

though  it  is  distinct  id  its  government.  It  is  prima- 
rily designed  for  the  education  of  young  Xegroes  for  the  Meth- 
odist ministry.  It  lias  a  good  corps  of  instructors,  its  course  of 
study  is  up  with  the  times,  and  it  is  wielding  a  great  influence 
for  good  in  the  South. 

The  Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  was  organized  at  Cincinnati,  O., 
Home  Mis-  July  6,  1880,  by  Christian  ladies  of  that  city  and 
ciety17  S°"  v^c"ntJ-  It  has  since  been  placed  in  the  same  rela- 
tion to  the  General  Conference  as  the  Woman's 
Foreign  Missionary  Society.  Its  affairs  are  administered  by  a 
board  of  managers,  a  corresponding  secretary,  and  one  delegate 
from  each  Annual  Conference.  Its  object  is  "to  enlist  and 
organize  the  efforts  of  Christian  women  in  behalf  of  the  needy 
and  destitute  women  and  children  of  all  sections  of  our  coun- 
try without  distinction  of  race,  and  to  co-operate  with  the  other 
societies  and  agencies  of  the  Church  in  educational  and  mis- 
sionary work."  It  has  a  field  in  the  South  and  "West  where 
are  multitudes  of  degraded  and  ignorant  women.  It  seeks 
to  lift  these  up,  and  guide  them  into  the  paths  of  purity  and 
Christian  civilization.  It  has  in  twelve  years  of  existence 
accomplished  good  work  and  been  a  blessing  to  hundreds  of 
souls. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  319 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1884. 

The  nineteenth  delegated  and  twenty-fifth  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  assembled  in  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  Hall,  Philadelphia,  Pa., 
May  1,  1884.  The  bishops  were  present  as  follows:  Simpson, 
Cowman,  Harris,  Foster,  Wiley,  Merrill,  Andrews,  Warren, 
Foss,  and  Hurst.  Bishop  Simpson,  though  feeble,  presided  at 
the  opening. 

The  Conference  was  composed  of  2G1  ministerial  and  156 
lay  delegates,  or  in  all  417.  David  S.  Monroe  was  elected 
secretary. 

After  the  organization  Bishop  Harris  presented  to  the  Gen- 
eral Confer  ence  a  Bible  having  a  remarkable  his-  presentation 
tory.  It  had  belonged  to  John  Wesley,  and  in  it  he  of  a  Bible- 
had  written  the  initials  of  his  name.  It  was  presented  by 
Mr.  Wesley  to  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  the  commentator;  from 
Mr.  Benson  it  descended  to  his  son,  Mr.  S.  Benson.  Subse- 
quently it  came  into  the  possession  of  Mr.  Samuel  Darks 
W addy,  Queen's  Council,  Temple,  London,  who  now  presented 
it  to  the  General  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Accompanying  the  Bible  was  an  interesting  letter 
addressed  to  the  Conference  through  Bishop  Simpson.  The 
General  Conference  received  the  Bible  and  ordered  that  it 
should  be  kept  in  the  custody  of  the  bishops,  to  be  by  them 
brought  to  the  sessions  of  the  General  Conference  for  use  in 
the  opening  services  and  in  the  ordination  of  the  bishops,  and 
should  also  be  used  at  the  Centennial  Conference  at  Baltimore. 

The  address  of  the  bishops  was  a  masterly  church-state 
paper,  clear  in  thought,  strong  in  expression,  and  of  Bishops'  ad- 
great  importance  to  the  whole  Church.    One  thing  dress- 
rendering  this  General  Conference  of  unusual  importance  and 


320 


MANUAL  OF 


interest  was  tliat  it  met  in  the  centennial  year  of  Method- 
ism as  an  organized  Church  in  America.  The  interest  was 
doubled  from  the  fact  that  the  first  Annual  Conference  held  in 
America  occurred  one  hundred  and  eleven  years  previous  to 
1S84  in  Philadelphia,  when  only  ten  ministers  received  ap- 
pointments. Within  five  years  the  Revolutionary  War  had 
broken  out,  and  most  of  these  ministers  had  returned  to  En- 
gland, Francis  Asbury  only  remaining.  The  saintly  and  cour- 
ageous Asbury  may  well  be  called  "  the  apostle  and  father  of 
American  Methodism." 

The  bishops'  address  refers  to  the  marvelous  success  of  the 
early  itinerants,  and  attributes  this  to  three  causes : 

1.  "The  tireless  zeal  and  holy  living  of  the  early  Method- 
ists." 2.  "The  doctrines  proclaimed  by  the  earlier  ministers 
were  chiefly  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  the  Gospel — the  fall 
and  ruin  of  man,  his  need  of  a  Saviour,  the  atonement  of 
Christ,  the  forgiveness  of  sins,  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  per- 
fect love,  and  all  the  blessings  of  a  free  and  full,  a  present  and 
eternal,  salvation."    3.  "  The  itinerancy." 

The  bishops  commended  to  the  consideration  of  the  Confer- 
The  Judicial  ence  the  question  whether  the  Judicial  Conferences 
conferences,  "ought  to  be  lunger  permitted  to  reverse  the  find- 
ings of  the  6  select  number,'  or  of  an  Annual  Conference,  or  to 
remand  a  case  for  a  new  trial  on  merely  technical  grounds,  or 
because  of  errors  in  the  proceedings  of  the  court  below,  which 
errors  do  not  materialljT  affect  the  question  of  the  guilt  or  inno- 
cence of  the  appellant." 

The  address  commends  the  efforts  of  the  literary  institutions 
to  pay  their  debts  and  obtain  additions  to  their  en- 
dowments.   In  the  theological  schools  they  show 
how  marked  has  been  the  advance. 

The  address,  in  looking  to  the  future  of  the 

Sources  of  7  °< 

success  in  the  work  in  the  Church,  and  inquiring  for  the  forces 
to  produce  success,  presented  three  considerations 
as  important : 

"  1.  An  earnest,  indefatigable,  and  consecrated  ministry. 
"  2.  A  devoted  and  actively  co-operating  membership. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  321 


"3.  The  rich  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  God  has 
promised  to  his  true  servants." 

The  allusion  of  the  address  to  these  points  showed  how  im- 
portant they  were,  and  how  under  the  plan  of  Methodism  and  its 
usages  they  were  most  efficient  in  accomplishing  the  ends  de- 
sired. The  Missionary  Society  was  prospering  in  its  Benevolent 
work.  The  Church  Extension  was  "affording  help  to  societies, 
many  churches  throughout  the  land,  and  especially  in  the  South 
and  West."  The  Freedmerfs  Aid  Society  was  extending  in  the 
South.  The  Sunday-School  Union  was  increasing  its  literature.. 
The  Board  of  Education  was  educating  a  number  of  promising; 
young  men  and  women. 

The  report  of  the  Book  Committee  showed  that  during  the- 
quadrennium  the  sales  in  the  East  amounted  to  Bookcommit- 
$3,534,595.75,  and  at  the  West  to  $2,920,891.53,  or  a  tee's  report, 
total  of  $6,455,487.28.  This  was  an  increase  in  four  years  of 
$3G5, 344.71.  The  net  capital  of  all  the  Book  Concerns  was 
$1,017,450.30.  When  the  new  building,  805  Broadway,  lew 
York,  was  purchased  in  1869  bonds  for  $500,000  were  issued 
at  seven  per  cent.  In  18S4  these  were  called  in — about  one 
half  paid,  and  new  bonds  at  five  per  cent,  issued  for  the  re- 
mainder. 

Eev.  W.  X.  Emde,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  president  of  Garrett  Bibli- 
cal Institute,  Rev.  John  M.  Walden,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  one  Election  of 
of  the  agents  of  the  Book  Concern  at  Cincinnati  since  bistloP3- 
1868,  Eev.  Willard  F.  Mallalieu,  D.D.,  presiding  elder  of  the 
Boston  District,  New  England  Conference,  and  Eev.  Charles 
II.  Fowler,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  missionary  secretary,  were  elected  and 
consecrated  bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

On  the  17th  day  of  May,  1884,  the  Committee  on  Missions 
presented  a  report  to  tli3  General  Conference,  reeom- 

1  >  A  7  Missionary 

mending  "the  election  of  a  missionary  bishop  for-  bishop  for 
Africa/'  It  was  ordered  printed,  and  on  the  21st  of  Afnca" 
May  was  adopted.  The  feeling  in  the  General  Conference  as 
expressed  in  the  various  addresses  was  that  this  bishop  should 
be  clothed  with  all  the  power  in  Africa  that  any  of  our  bishops 
posses,  and  that  he  should  bo  left  perfectly  free.1  to-  wage  a 

09. 


322 


MANUAL  OF 


spiritual  war  on  the  forces  of  the  Dark  Continent.  The  Rev. 
William  Taylor,  D.D.,  lay  delegate  from  India,  was  elected  to 
this  office.  Dr.  Taylor  was  born  in  Rockbridge  County,  Ya., 
May  2,  1821.  He  entered  the  Baltimore  Conference  1843.  In 
1819  he  went  to  California,  where  he  labored  as  street  preacher 
and  evangelist,  under  the  direction  of  the  Missionary  Society, 
for  seven  years.  After  that  he  traveled  extensively  and  labored 
as  an  evangelist,  spending  three  years  in  Australia,  JS^ew  Zea- 
land, and  Tasmania.  Then  he  went  to  Africa  among  the  Kaf- 
firs, where  the  missionaries  reported  seven  thousand  converts. 
Then  he  labored  in  England  and  Scotland.  He  next  visited 
the  West  India  Islands,  British  Guiana,  and  South  America. 
Then  again  he  went  to  Australia,  where  a  revival  followed,  and 
also  in  Ceylon.  In  1870  he  visited  India.  For  about  a  year 
and  a  half  he  labored  in  the  India  missions.  In  1872  he  com- 
menced in  Bombay  the  work  of  founding  self-supporting  mis- 
sions. This  work  spread,  especially  among  the  Eurasians,  and 
resulted  in  the  South  India  Conference.  His  next  field  was  the 
western  coast  of  South  America,  where  in  progress  at  the  time 
of  his  election  was  a  flourishing  educational  and  evangelizing 
work  employing  forty-three  preachers  and  teachers. 

The  election  of  Dr.  Taylor  as  bishop  for  Africa  resulted  in 
the  raising  and  discussion  of  many  intricate  questions  in  the 
Church  in  the  United  States,  and  in  the  planting  and  extending 
of  the  work  of  Methodism  in  the  continent  of  Africa.  Some 
of  the  discussions  of  these  questions  was  in  a  fault-finding  spirit, 
but  in  general  they  were  on  a  high  plane,  and  exhibited  a  spirit 
of  "  brotherly  love."  Bishop  Taylor  entered  upon  his  mission 
fully  prepared  to  do  his  work  well,  if  left  to  his  own  way.  He 
did  not  permit  interference.  The  story  of  his  African  experi- 
ences reads  like  a  novel. 

At  Upper  Sandusky,  O.,  in  November,  1816,  was  established 
the  Wyandotte  Indian  Mission.  The  Council  of  the 
sTon™^  tribe,  by  Harry  Jacques,  principal  chief,  conveyed 
upper  san-  grround  to  the  mission  upon  which  the  church  and 

dusky,  O. 

school  were  erected.    James  B.  Finley  was  the  first 
regularly  appointed  missionary,  though  Stewart,  a  colored  man, 


MKTIIODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  323 

Lad  been  at  work  before  as  a  volunteer  missionary.  Here  was, 
in  fact,  t'ie  birthplace  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  Many  red  men  were  converted,  and  the 
mission  was  prosperous.  Stewart  died  and  was  buried  here; 
also  chiefs  Between-the-Lcgs,  Gray-Eyes,  and  Simundewat,  who 
had  all  been  converted.  The  old  church  and  the  tomb-stones 
were  dilapidated  and  marred.  The  march  of  civilization  had 
forced  most  of  this  Indian  tribe  to  the  west.  Only  a  remnant 
was  left.  The  Missionary  Committee  recommended  that  the 
Church  at  Upper  Sandusky  should  be  made  the  legal  custodian 
of  this  property,  and  that  the  Missionary  Society  should  pay  the 
expense  of  putting  in  proper  form  and  preserving  these  relics  of 
the  work  of  other  days.  The  General  Conference  approved 
the  recommendation  of  the  committee. 

A  change  was  about  this  time  made  in  the  duration  of 
a  certificate  of  church  membership.  Heretofore  a  Members' cer- 
church  letter  was  considered  as  never  dead.  Hence  tiflcate- 
some  letters  were  carried  ten  or  twenty  years  without  being 
deposited  in  the  Church.  In  this  way  there  was  a  sort  of  a 
Church  in  the  pocket.  Now  the  life  of  a  letter  is  only  one 
year,  but  under  certain  circumstances  it  may  be  renewed. 
It  was  also  enacted  that  a  member's  responsibility  remained  in 
the  Church  from  which  he  received  his  letter. 

Joseph  M.  Trimble,  D.D.,  of  the  Ohio  Conference,  was  in- 
vited to  a  seat  on  the  platform  with  the  bishops,  in  Josepb  m. 
recognition  of  his  being  the  senior  member  of  the  Trimble. 
Conference.  He  had  been  a  member  of  all  the  General  Con- 
ferences from  1844,  eleven  in  all.  He  had  seen  the  Church  in 
its  struggling  days  as  well  as  now  in  its  strength. 

A  number  of  memorials  reached  the  General  Conference 
asking  for  more  explicit  legislation  regarding  the  im- 

.  »  o  Divorce. 

portant  subject  of  divorce.  An  elaborate  report  was 
adopted,  and  the  following  was  ordered  to  be  embodied  in  the 
Discipline :  "  No  divorce  shall  be  recognized  as  lawful  by 
the  Church  except  for  adultery.  And  no  minister  shall  solem- 
nize marriage  in  any  case  where  there  is  a  divorced  wife  or 
husband  living ;  but  this  rule  shall  not  apply  to  the  innocent 


324 


MANUAL  OF 


party  in  a  divorce  for  the  cause  of  adultery,  nor  to  divorced 
parties  seeking  to  be  reunited  in  marriage." 

John  M.  Phillips  and  Sandford  Hunt  were  elected  book 
agents  at  New  York ;  Earl  Cranston  and  William  P. 
Stowe,  book  agents  at  Cincinnati ;  Daniel  Curry,  ed- 
itor of  the  Quarterly  Review  and  books  of  the  general  catalogue  ; 
James  M.  Buckley,  editor  of  The  Christian  Advocate  ;  John 
H.  Yincent,  editor  of  Sunday-school  publications  and  corre- 
sponding secretory  of  the  Sunday-School  Union  and  Tract  Soci- 
ety ;  Jeremiah  H.  Bayliss,  editor  of  the  Western  Christian 
Advocate ;  Arthur  Edwards,  of  the  J¥orth-western  Christian 
Advocate  ;  Benjamin  St.  James  Fry,  of  the  Central  Christian 
Advocate;  Orris  H.  Warren,  of  the  Northern  Christian  Advo- 
cate ;  Charles  W.  Smith,  of  the  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate ; 
Benjamin  F.  Crary,  of  the  California  Christian  Advocate; 
William  Xast,  of  Der  Christliche  Ajpologete ;  Henry  Liebhart, 
of  Haus  und  Herd  ;  Marshall  W.  Taylor,  of  the  Southwestern 
Christian  Advocate;  Richard  S.  Post,  secretary  of  the  Freed- 
men's  Aid  Society;  Alpha  J.  Ivynett,  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Church  Extension  ;  John  M.  Peid  and  Charles  C.  McCabe, 
missionary  secretaries ;  Daniel  P.  Kidder,  secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Education. 

On  the  28th  of  May  the  General  Conference  adjourned, 
close  of  the  Bishop  Simpson,  though  very  feeble,  and  hardly  able 
conference.  \0  oe  present,  gave  the  closing  words.  They  were 
full  of  pathos  and  evinced  his  great  love  for  Methodism. 
They  were  his  last  public  utterances.  When  he  pronounced 
the  benediction  his  public  work  was  practically  ended. 

Scarcely  had  the  General  Conference  adjourned  and  the 
DeathofBisn-  members  reached  their  homes  and  fields  of  work 
op  Simpson.  wnen  the  sad  words  were  flashed  over  the  wires  that 
the  venerable  senior  bishop — the  great,  the  immortal  Simpson 
— was  dead.  This  event  occurred  June  18,  1884,  at  his  home 
in  Philadelphia.  He  was  born  in  Cadiz,  O.,  June  20,  1811. 
He  had  reached  within  two  days  of  seventy-three  years  of  age. 
He  was  well  educated,  a  graduate  in  medicine  as  well  as  in  the 
arts,  a  skillful  college  professor  and  president,  an  editor  of 


i 

METnODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  325 


marked  ability,  and  a  bishop  of  excellent  parts  and  unbounded 
influence.  Loyal  to  his  country,  he  wielded  a  commanding 
influence  over  men  high  in  authority.  In  England  his  burning 
words  of  eloquence  won  back  many  from  a  desire  to  join  in 
alliance  with  Southern  rebels.  He  was  one  of  the  great  men  of 
American  Methodism. 

Bishop  Wiley  died  at  Foochow,  China,  while  holding  the 
Foochow  Conference,  November  22,  1884.  He  was  not  quite 
sixty  years  old,  having  been  born  at  Lewiston,  Pa.,  March  29, 
1825 ;  lie  was  a  graduate  in  medicine  from  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  New  York  University  in  1846.  He  settled  Deathof  Biso- 
in  the  practice  of  medicine.  In  1851  he  arrived  in  °Pwlley- 
China  as  a  medical  missionary.  At  Foochow  he  commenced 
his  work.  After  a  time  his  own  health  failed,  and  his  wife 
died  and  was  buried  there.  In  four  years  he  returned  to  the 
United  States.  In  1858  he  was  elected  principal  of  Penning- 
ton Seminary ;  in  1864  he  was  elected  editor  of  the  Ladled 
Repository,  and  in  1872  he  was  elected  a  bishop.  In  1884  he 
was  appointed  by  his  colleagues  to  visit  the  missions  in  China 
and  Japan.  "In  lucidity,"  says  The  Christian  Advocate, 
"he  had  no  superior  among  his  brethren.  In  self-restraint 
he  was  one  among  many;  in  prudence  he  reached,  without 
passing,  the  limit  of  rational  caution ;  in  knowing  when  to 
speak  and  when  to  be  silent  in  order  to  influence  his  brethren 
in  the  general  committees  of  the  Church  he  had  nothing  left 
to  learn ;  as  an  administrator  he  was  faithful  in  the  little  as 
well  as  in  the  great."  He  was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife  in 
Foochow. 

A  great  gathering  of  delegates  from  all  the  Methodist  bodies 
in  America  assembled  in  Baltimore,  December  9-17, 
1884,  to  celebrate  the  close  of  the  first  hundred  years  SonferVnci 
of  organized  Methodism.    This  was  an  event  of  no  of  American 

#  ,  Methodism. 

small  importance  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  to  Methodism  in  all  the  world.    The  General  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  had  the  honor  of 
first  proposing  the  centennial  celebration  of  1884.    They  made 
the  proposal  in  1878  in  their  General  Conference  in  Atlanta, 


326 


MANUAL  OF 


Ga.  Not  much  was  done  looking  to  arrangements  until  the  Ecu- 
menical Conference,  when  the  American  delegates  in  London 
signed  a  paper  drawn  up  by  Dr.  (now  Bishop)  Walden,  and  cir- 
culated for  signatures.  There  were  eighty-one  names  attached 
to  this  paper.  In  May,  1882,  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  appointed  a  committee  of 
correspondence,  and  provided  for  representatives  in  the  Con- 
ference. Meanwhile  the  bishops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  appointed  a  committee  of  twenty-six  "  to  consider  the 
matter  of  holding  a  Methodist  Centennial  Conference,"  and  to 
co-operate  with  the  committee  of  the  Church  South.  After 
full  consultation  a  proper  basis  of  representation  was  fixed  and 
a  programme  arranged. 

To  Bishoj}  Andrews,  chairman  of  the  General  Executive 
Committee,  may  be  given  the  meed  of  praise  for  the  success  of 
the  Conference.  The  speakers  and  essayists  were  on  the  ground 
and  ready  to  do  their  work,  except  in  three  or  four  instances, 
when  the  bishop  was  able  to  draft  men  to  step  in  and  fill  up 
the  vacancies. 

There  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-one  delegates  from  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church ;  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South  ;  fifty -one  from 
the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  sixteen  from  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church  ;  ten  from  the  Col- 
ored Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  America;  two  from  the 
Primitive  Methodist  Church ;  two  from  the  Methodist  Church 
of  Canada ;  two  from  the  Independent  Methodist  Church  ;  also 
four  fraternal  delegates  from  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church, 
and  one  from  the  Bible  Christian  Church,  being  a  total  of  four 
hundred  and  forty-six  delegates.  These  were  about  equally 
divided  between  the  ministry  and  laity.  Almost  all  the  occu- 
pations of  the  business  world  were  represented  among  the  laity, 
and  well-nigh  every  shade  of  culture  and  position  was  found 
among  the  ministry. 

At  an  informal  gathering  December  8,  in  the  First  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  Baltimore,  the  "  lineal  successor  of  Lovely 
Lane  Chapel,  in  which  the  Christmas  Conference  of  1784  assem- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


327 


bled,"  the  delegates  were  received  and  welcomed.  The  address 
of  Bishop  Andrews  on  that  occasion  was  very  able,  as  were  also 
the  addresses  of  Dr.  J.  13.  McFerrin,  of  the  Church  South,  and 
of  Professor  J.  C.  Price,  of  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Zion  Church. 

The  first  session  opened  in  Mt.  Yernon  Place  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  Baltimore.  After  religious  services  Bishop 
J.  C.  Granbery,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South, 
was  called  to  preside.  After  the  formal  organization  of  the 
Centennial  Conference  Bishop  R.  S.  Foster,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal   Church,   preached  a   masterly  sermon, 

r        1  71  tJ  7  Sermon  of 

which  occupied  over  two  hours  in  its  delivery.    The  Bishop  fos- 
text  he  chose  was  2  Chron.  xxxii,  2,  3,  and  Psa.  ter* 
lxviii,  12,  13.    The  sermon  must  be  read  to  be  appreciated. 

The  topics  discussed  were  various  and  far-reaching,  im- 
portant to  every  branch  of  Methodism.    The  speak-   subjects  dis- 
ers  represented  several  branches  of  the  Methodist  cussed- 
family.    The  general  tone  of  the  meeting  was  highly  conducive 
to  fraternity. 

As  the  closing  exercise  a  Conference  love-feast  was  held. 
The  veteran  Dr.  Joseph  M.  Trimble  presided.  The  great 
church  was  filled  with  an  audience  of  Christian  men  and 
women.  The  hymn,  "  There  is  a  fountain  filled  with  blood,'' 
was  sung  with  hearty  good-will.  Then  testimonies  were  given 
by  an  Indian,  by  Negroes,  by  men  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  by 
Germans  and  Englishmen.  It  was  a  time  to  be  remembered 
in  the  history  of  Methodism.  A  stranger  could  not  have  told 
that  these  men  were  members  of  different  denominations. 

By  agreement  Dr.  Frederick  Merrick,  of  Ohio,  one  of  the 
patriarchs  of  Methodism  and  of  Methodist  education, 

'  .  Dr.  Merrick. 

gave  a  short  address,  which  left  a  very  deep  impres- 
sion on  the  Conference.  After  referring  to  the  Conference  and 
its  discussions,  to  the  doctrines  of  Methodism  and  their  truly 
catholic  and  highly  liberal  spirit,  he  uttered  a  most  timely  and 
solemn  warning.  "  Methodism,"  said  he,  "  is  still  on  probation, 
and  peccability  is  a  condition  of  probation.    Other  Churches 


328 


MANUAL  OF 


have  fallen  away ;  Methodism  may.  Our  prosperity  as  a 
church  organization  brings  with  it  many  subtle  and  powerful 
temptations.  "We  need  to  watch  and  pray  that  wTe  be  not  led 
into  them."  These  sound  and  fitting  words  fell  upon  the  ears 
and  touched  the  hearts  of  that  vast  audience.  It  seemed  as  if 
age  and  experience  were  talking  to  an  incoming  century  of 
youth.  Dr.  Trimble  led  the  Conference  in  a  solemn  prayer. 
After  the  doxology  he  pronounced  the  benediction,  and  the 
first  Centennial  Conference  of  American  Methodism  was  a  sub- 
ject of  history. 

In  1885  the  call  of  the  Missionary  Society  on  the  Church 
a  minion  for  was  made — "A  million  for  missions  in  1885."  The 
missions.  ca][  Avas  somewhat  unexpected.  Many  said,  "Im- 
possible ;  "  but  others  said,  "  Yes,  it  can  be  done."    Dr.  Charles 

C.  McCabe  led  on  in  the  watch-cry.  It  was  shown  how  much 
could  be  done  in  extending  the  mission  work  if  contributions 
could  be  increased  from  $600,000  to  81,000,000.  While  there 
was  a  grand  increase  all  along  the  line  it  did  not  quite  reach 
the  round  81,000,000. 

On  June  8,  1885,  died  at  Atlantic  Highlands,  N.  J., 
Death  of  Dr.  Dr.  D.      "Whedon,  who  had  been  for  more  than  a 

D.  D.whedon.  quarter  of  a  century  editor  of  the  Methodist  Re- 
view and  chief  editor  of  the  books  published  by  the  Book  Con- 
cern. He  was  a  native  of  Onondaga,  N.  Y.,  born  March  20, 
1808.  He  graduated  at  Hamilton  College  in  1828,  and  studied 
law,  but  entered  upon  teaching  in  the  Oneida  Conference  Sem- 
inary. In  1833  he  was  elected  professor  of  ancient  languages 
and  literature  in  "Wesleyan  University.  In  1813  he  entered 
the  pastoral  work,  and  in  1815  he  was  professor  of  rhetoric, 
logic,  and  history  in  the  University  of  Michigan.  The  Gen- 
eral Conference  in  1856  elected  him  the  editor  of  the  Methodist 
Quarterly  Review,  which  he  edited  for  twenty-eight  years. 
Dr.  Whedon  was  a  man  of  colossal  mind,  acute,  strong,  vigor- 
ous, and  earnest ;  a  Christian  of  strong  convictions,  and  a  loyal 
Methodist.  Combining  these  powers  he  brought  the  Review 
to  the  highest  excellence.  As  an  author  he  was  in  the  first 
rank.    His  work  on  The  Freedom  of  the  Will  is  a  masterpiece 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  329 


of  reasoning.  His  commentaries  are  of  the  highest  order.  The 
Church  has  produced  few  such  men  as  Whedon. 

The  General  Conference  ordered  the  publication  of  a  Man- 
ual, quarterly,  giving  "  information  concerning  the 
benevolent  work  of  our  Church."    The  first  nuin-  MeTifodVst 
ber  was  issued  October,  1S80,  and  it  continued  to  be  Episcopal 

j  '  Church. 

published  up  to  May  of  1888,  when  by  order  of  the 
General  Conference  it  was  suspended.    The  Manual  was  a  live 
and  valuable  history  of  the  societies  and  interests  represented. 
It  condensed  the  facts  of  general  interest  to  the  whole  Church 
into  a  very  small  space. 

Rev.  George  C.  Haddock,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Sioux  City,  la.,  a  great  temperance  advo-  Murder  0f 
catc,  was  brutally  shot  in  cold  blood  by  the  conspiracy  Haddock, 
of  saloonists  in  Sioux  City,  August  3,  1886,  for  no  other  fault 
than  that  he  was  actively  engaged  in  seeking  to  restrain  the 
rum  traffic  and  enfranchise  the  drunkard  and  his  family.  Had- 
dock was  as  much  a  martyr  to  the  cause  of  temperance  as  wTas 
Hiiss,  or  Jerome  of  Prague,  or  Ridley,  or  Latimer  to  the  cause 
of  Christianity.  His  death,  it  is  thought,  had  much  to  do  in 
making  Iowa  a  prohibition  State. 

In  April,  1887,  a  proposition  was  made  by  the  trustees  of 
City  Road  Chapel,  London,  to  permit  the  Method- 

•  v  1  .  .       Memorial  win- 

ists  of  America  to  put  in  their  church  a  memorial  dowto  Bishop 
window  to  Bishop  Simpson.  It  is  known  in  art  as  Sirapson- 
a  Georgian  window,  18  by  6  feet,  and  cost  $1,200.  It  is  a 
splendid  tribute  to  the  memory  and  wTorth  of  the  great  bishop. 
It  is  another  of  those  imperishable  links  binding  British  and 
American  Methodism  to  each  other. 

Dr.  Daniel  Curry  was  born  near  Peekskill,  !N.  Y.,  Novem- 
ber 26,  1809.  He  graduated  at  Wesleyan  Univer-  DeathofDr. 
sity  in  1837,  and  for  a  while  taught  in  the  Troy  Curry- 
Conference  Academy.  In  1839  he  became  a  professor  in  Geor- 
gia Female  College,  at  Macon ;  in  1841  he  joined  the  Georgia 
Conference,  and  was  transferred  to  New  York  Conference  in 
1844.  He  became  president  of  Indiana  Asbury  (now  De  Pauw) 
University  in  1854;  editor  of  The  Christian  Advocate  in  1864, 


330 


MANUAL  OF 


which  office  he  continued  to  hold  until  May,  18TG ;  editor  of 
the  National  Repository  1876,  and  in  1884  editor  of  the  Meth- 
odist Review.  He  was  a  member  of  eight  General  Conferences. 
Dr.  Curry  was  a  strong,  cultured,  angular,  positive  man.  He 
had  strong  convictions,  and  was  intensely  loyal  to  the  Church 
and  Christianity.  His  pen  was  always  sharp,  strong,  and  enter- 
taining. He  followed  his  convictions  in  every  way  of  life.  He 
died  August  IT,  1887,  having  reached  his  seventy-eighth  year. 

Bishop  W.  L.  Harris  was  a  great  and  good  man.  He  was  a 
Death  of  Bish-  native  of  Ohio,  born  November  4,  1817 ;  converted 
op  Hams.  june  10,  1834;  was  a  student  at  Norwalk  Semi- 
nary; licensed  to  preach  in  1S30;  in  1S37  entered  Michigan 
Conference;  principal  of  Baldwin  Institute,  now  University, 
1848-51;  professor  in  Ohio  \Yesleyan  University  1S51-60; 
elected  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Missionary  Society  and 
served  to  1872,  when  elected  bishop.  Bishop  Harris  was  a 
man  of  strong  mind,  of  earnest  convictions,  and  of  an  indomit- 
able will.  Self-educated  under  the  greatest  of  embarrassments, 
lie  had  no  patience  with  those  who  said  they  could  not  get  an 
education.    He  was  secretary  of  five  General  Conferences. 

As  a  bishop  he  was  a  parliamentarian  and  an  administrator. 
His  judgment  was  sound,  his  will  firm,  his  decisions  prompt, 
and  his  spirit  generally  kind,  though  his  natural  abruptness  of 
speech  often  gave  the  impression  that  he  was  incensed  or  irri- 
tated, which  was  rarely  the  case,  and  when  it  occurred  soon 
passed  away.  Bishop  Harris,  as  a  preacher,  "  in  his  early  days 
was  full  of  energy  and  fervor.  More  recently,  also,  he  was 
dignified  and  edifying,  frequently  interesting,  and  occasionally 
imbued  with  mental  pathos  and  unction."  In  church  law  he 
reigned  without  a  rival.  He  loved  this  study,  and  knew  all  its 
sharp  and  weak  points. 

He  traveled  around  the  globe  in  his  work  for  Methodism. 
On  returning  it  was  a  feast  to  hear  his  account  of  God's  work 
and  triumph  in  the  dark  parts  of  the  world.  He  seemed  to  see 
with  many  eyes  and  to  plan  with  many  minds  how  to  carry 
forward  the  work  of  the  Church  in  saving  souls.  He  died  in 
Kew  York,  September  2,  18S7. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


331 


Marshall  W.  Taylor,  D.D.,  was  a  colored  man  who  rose 
from  poverty  and  ignorance  to  be  a  soul-saver  and  a  Marshall  w. 
leader  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Born  Taylor»  D-D- 
July  1,  1846,  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  of  free  parents,  he  became  a 
man  of  culture.  He  was  a  member  of  two  General  Conferences 
and  presiding  elder  of  Louisville  District.  In  1844  he  was 
elected  the  editor  of  the  South-western  Christian  Advocate  at 
New  Orleans.  This  he  ably  conducted  till  his  death  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  September  11,  1S87. 

The  Indiana  Asbury  University  wTas  founded  at  Greencastle, 
Ind.,  in  1837.  Its  career  was  one  of  marked  sue-  Derauwuni- 
cess.  In  1881  the  Hon.  Washington  C.  De  Pauw,  death  oVwlc! 
of  New  Albany,  when  about  to  leave  the  United  De  Pauw'  its 

,  ,  ,  great  bene- 

States  for  travel  in  Europe  and  Asia,  determined  factor, 
on  founding  a  school  of  high  grade  and  giving  it  ample  en- 
dowment. This  design  he  casually  communicated  to  Dr.  Plight, 
of  Cincinnati,  Colonel  J.  "W.  Ray,  of  Indianapolis,  and  Dr.  J. 
C.  Ridpath,  of  Greencastle.  After  a  time  Mr.  De  Pauw  deter- 
mined to  make  the  Indiana  Asbury  University  his  beneficiary. 
After  proper  correspondence  the  matter  was  arranged,  and  on 
October  15,  1883,  the  thing  wTas  practically  and  successfully 
completed.  The  trustees  then  determined  to  change  the  name 
of  the  university.  Mr.  DePauw  opposed  this  to  the  last.  The 
name  was  legally  changed  by  decree  of  the  Putnam  County 
Court,  May  5,  1884.  After  this  date  the  university  was  known 
as  De  Pauw  University. 

While  Mr.  De  Pauw  lived  he  gave  constantly  to  aid  the 
university.  Money,  time,  counsel,  and  hard  work  were 
given  in  no  stinted  measure  to  advance  the  enterprise.  His 
whole  soul  seemed  wrapped  up  in  it.  He  desired  its  complete 
success. 

On  the  evening  of  May  5,  1887,  just  three  years  after  the 
change  in  the  name  of  the  university,  Mr.  De  Pauw  and  his 
son,  N.  T.  DePauw,  were  on  the  train  in  Chicago  about  leaving 
for  their  home  in  New  Albany.  He  was  suddenly  stricken 
with  apoplexy.  He  was  carried  to  the  Palmer  House  in 
Chicago,  where  he  died  before  midnight.    W.  C.  De  Pauw 


332 


MANUAL  OF 


was  a  native  of  Indiana.  He  descended  from  a  noble  Hugue- 
not family.  His  grandfather  came  to  America  with  General 
Lafayette  and  fought  for  American  independence.  Mr. 
De  Pauw  was  a  noble  Christian  gentleman.  He  was  an  exten- 
sive manufacturer  and  banker.  By  his  will  forty  per  cent,  of 
his  vast  estate  went  to  the  enlargement  of  the  university  which 
bears  his  name. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CIIUIICII  HISTORY.  333 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1888. 

The  twentieth  delegated  and  twenty-sixth  General  Conference 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Clmrch  assembled  in  the  Metropol- 
itan Opera  House,  in  New  vYork,  May  1,  1888.  It  was  com- 
posed of  288  ministerial  and  175  lay  delegates,  making  a  total 
of  463.    It  was  an  imposing  body,  of  culture  and  intelligence. 

The  bishops  present  were  Bowman,  Foster,  Merrill,  Andrews, 
Warren,  Foss,  Hurst,  Ninde,  Walden,  Mallalieu,  and  Fowler. 

After  the  religious  services  Bishop  Bowman  presented  the 
General  Conference  with  a  paper  setting  forth  the  Questi0ns  of 
judgment  of  the  Board  of  Bishops  regarding  ques-  organization, 
tions  arising  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  Methodism 
affecting  the  legal  organization  of  that  body.  There  had  been 
elected  by  certain  lay  electoral  Conferences  women  as  delegates 
to  tbe  General  Conference.  These  women  were  present  and 
demanded  admission  to  seats.  The  question  of  embarrassment 
was  as  to  what  was  their  legal  status.  Hence  this  paper  from 
the  bishops. 

"Who  shall  decide  as  to  the  qualification  for  a  seat  in  the 
General  Conference  %  Not  the  secretary,  for  he  is  only  a  clerk, 
and  may  only  place  on  the  roll  such  as  are  unquestioned  and 
unchallenged.  ISTot  the  bishops,  who  alone  are  authorized  to 
cnperintend  the  organization  according  to  constitutional  provis- 
ions. They  might  decide  in  all  cases  where  there  arose  no 
question  as  to  title  to  sit.  But  where  grave  questions  do  arise, 
it  is  the  true  method  to  organize  with  those  who  are  unques- 
tionably duly  qualified  to  sit  as  members  of  the  General  Con- 
ference. Then,  when  a  quorum  is  present,  leave  the  decision 
of  qualification  of  others  or  questioned  cases  to  be  determined 
by  the  body  itself.* 

*  Journal,  1888,  pp.  11-73. 


334 


MANUAL  OF 


Bishop  Bowman  called  on  the  secretary  of  the  last  General 
Conference  to  call  the  roll  in  accordance  with  this  principle, 
which  having  been  done  David  S.  Monroe  was  elected  secretary. 
The  General  Conference  was  thus  fully  and  legally  organized. 

There  were  two  classes  of  delegates  concerning  whose  eligi- 
Twociassesof  bility  there  was  question — women,  and  men  who  did 

d.ubtfui  ell-  not  regide  ^fljjjj  tiie  bounds  of  the  Conferences  hav- 
glbllity  as  del- 
egates, ing  elected  them.  Of  the  last  class  John  MP  Phil- 
lips, elected  by  the  Mexico  Conference,  was  a  resident  of  New 
York,  and  Robert  E.  Pattison,  elected  by  the  North  India 
Conference,  was  a  resident  of  Pennsylvania.  These  two  classes 
were  referred  to  separate  committees. 

The  minority  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted,  and  John 
M.  Phillips  and  Robert  E.  Pattison  were  not  admitted  to  seats. 

The  protests  against  the  admission  of  women  were  sustained 
by  the  Discipline,  and  they  were  not  admitted  to 

Protests. 

seats.  The  women  thus  not  admitted  were  Amanda 
C.  Pippey,  of  the  Kansas  Conference;  Mary  C.  Nind,  of  the 
Minnesota  Conference;  Angie  F.  Newman,  of  the  Nebraska 
Conference;  Lizzie  D.  Van  Kirk,  of  the  Pittsburg  Conference  ; 
and  Frances  E.  Willard,  of  the  Pock  Piver  Conference. 

Pev.  Charles  J.  Clark,  D.D.,  ministerial  delegate  from  the 
Maine  Conference,  who  was  one  of  the  secretaries 

Death  of  Chas. 

j.  Clark  and  of  of  the  General  Conference,  suddenly  died  while  in 
Leavitt  Bates.  a^en(]ance  Up0n  the  General  Conference,  May  6. 
Leavitt  Bates,  also,  a  lay  delegate  from  the  Xew  England 
Southern  Conference,  died  the  same  clay.  These  were  good 
men  and  true,  and  their  brethren  mourned  their  loss. 

The  address  of  the  bishops  carefully  reviewed  the  condition 
Bishops1  °f  *'ie  Church  in  a  condensed  but  very  clear  man- 
address.  11Gr#  The  membership  had  increased  in  the  quad- 
rennium  about  450,000,  so  that  the  total  number  was  2,093,935. 
Great  advance  had  been  made  in  "the  seating  capacity  and  in 
the  architectural  excellency  "  of  many  of  the  church  edifices. 

The  connectional  agencies  of  the  Church  were  brought  out 
in  a  clear  light.  The  publishing  houses,  the  Trustees  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  the  Board  of  Education,  the  Mis- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  335 


sionary  Society,  the  Church  Extension  Board,  the  Freedmen's 
Aid  Society,  and  the  Sunday-school  and  Tract  causes  were 
shown  to  be  working  in  the  most  perfect  harmony  in  a  system 
that  is  unique,  and  accomplishing  the  greatest  good  for  all  men. 

The  address  pointed  out  three  considerations  urging  young 
men  to  a  thorough  preparation  and  full  equipment  for  the  min- 
i-fry :  "First,  The  demand  for  such  men  is  quite  in  excess  of 
the  supply.  Missions  all  over  the  world  hunger  for  them,  and 
the  number  of  intelligent  Churches  in  the  home  field  has  in- 
creased more  rapidly  than  the  number  of  pastors  well  qualified 
to  fill  them.  Second,  The  subtle  and  ever-varying  forms  of 
skepticism  rife  in  our  times;  the  astounding  self-assurance  with 
which  philosophical  vagaries  long  since  exploded  are  dealt  out 
as  brilliant  novelties;  the  amazing  effrontery  and  flippancy 
witli  which  all  things  serious  are  treated;  the  perpetual  dissem- 
ination of  pernicious  sentiments  by  the  press;  and  a  manifest 
loosening  of  the  traditional  bonds  of  popular  respect  for  the 
Sabbath,  the  Bible,  and  the  Church,  are  startlingly  suggestive 
of  the  qualifications  for  the  ministry  which  the  times  demand. 
Thirds  The  swift  development  of  secular  forces  in  this  country  ; 
our  unprecedented  material  prosperity,  fraught  with  unknown 
possibilities  of  moral  evil;  the  ominous  mutterings  of  discon- 
tent from  multitudes  of  the  poor ;  the  grasping  exactions  and 
political  power  of  the  enormously  rich ;  the  elements  of  evil 
inseparable  from  so  vast  an  influx  of  foreign  populations;  the 
rapid  fixing  of  the  trend  of  popular  thought  in  Territories  soon 
to  blossom  into  States  holding  the  balance  of  power  in  the  re- 
public— ail  these  point  to  collisions  of  sentiment  and  culmina- 
tions of  forces  sure  to  mark  the  closing  decade  of  the  century 
as  an  epoch  in  our  national  history  of  incalculable  importance." 
Then  the  bishops  exclaim,  "  What  trained,  consecrated  leader- 
ship does  the  Church  need  in  such  a  time !  " 

In  the  twelve  theological  seminaries,  fifty-four  colleges,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  seminaries  and  academies,  with  buildings 
and  endowments  and  other  property  amounting  to  $25,000,000, 
Methodism  must  wield  an  immense  influence. 

The  efforts  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  to  carry  forward 


336 


MANUAL  OF 


the  two  arms  of  the  service — the  education  of  the  Negro  and  the 
Freedmen's  simultaneous  uplifting  and  culture  of  the  poor  whites 
Aid  society.  0f  t}ie  gouth,  was  an  herculean  task,  and  the  society 
ought  not  to  be  censured  for  the  occasional  friction  that  arose. 

After  speaking  of  the  success  of  the  missionary  work,  the 
Bishop  Tay-  address  discusses  two  vital  questions.  The  first  is  the 
lor'swork.  question  of  supervision  of  missions  by  the  visit  of 
hishops  from  the  home  land,  or,  second,  by  missionary  bishops. 
These  propositions  are  surrounded  with  perplexing  questions 
that  are  more  easily  asked  than  answered.  Of  Bishop  Taylor's 
work  in  Africa  the  bishops  say,  "  For  all  his  representations  we 
bespeak  your  most  considerate  judgment,  and  for  himself  per- 
sonally your  sympathy  and  your  prayers." 

The  difficulties  for  the  first  time  presented  to  the  General 
The  eligibility  Conference  regarding  the  eligibility  of  women  to 
sLte^GetN  membership  in  that  body  were  not  few  nor  insig- 
tme  as°deS-  uihcant.  The  address  took  its  position  on  the  his- 
gates.  torical  fact  that  when  the  restrictive  rule  was  so 

changed  in  1872  as  to  admit  laymen  it  did  not  include  women. 
The  bar  to  her  admission  was  a  constitutional  one,  which  could 
not  be  removed  by  a  simple  resolution  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, but  must  be  changed,  if  changed  at  all,  in  a  constitutional 
manner.  The  Annual  Conferences  must  consent  to  the  change 
or  it  cannot  be  constitutionally  effected. 

The  address  discussed  the  matter  of  what  was  the  constitu- 
constitution  tion  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  how  it 
ofthechurch.  might  be  changed.  The  suggestion  was  advanced 
that  provision  is  therein  made  for  changing  every  thing  but  the 
Articles  of  Religion  and  the  mode  of  changing.  Hsow  would 
it  not  be  wise  to  determine  a  mode  for  changing  this  last 
clause  ? 

The  evil  of  a  variety  of  forms  of  worship  in  different  parts 
Uniformity  of  °^  tne  Church  was  stated..  "In  traveling  through 
worship.  the  Connection  at  large  we  often,"  say  the  bishops, 
"experience  embarrassment  upon  discovering  that  we  do  not 
know  how  to  conduct  public  worship  in  the  congregation.  We 
either  sit  as  spectators,  joining  in  the  worship  as  best  we  can, 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  337 


while  the  pastor  leads  the  introductory  service,  or  put  ourselves 
under  his  instructions,  or  keep  before  us  a  written  programme, 
and  proceed  with  grave  apprehension  lest  a  blunder  be  perpe- 
trated. The  remedy  is  a  form  of  public  worship  which  shall 
he  uniform  and  imperative  in  its  essential  features." 

The  discussion  of  the  labor  problem  and  its  relation  to  Chris- 
tianity, the  Church,  and  especially  to  the  Methodist  The  Iabor 
Church,  evinced  a  clear  comprehension  of  the  magni-  problem, 
tude  of  the  problem  on  the  spiritual  side.  It  was  the  repeti- 
tion of  the  old  epiestion  "  of  the  relation  of  the  Church  to  the 
masses,  especially  to  the  poor."  "  Nothing  is  more  alarming  to 
the  philanthropist  and  the  patriot  than  the  alienation  of  the 
laboring  people  from  the  evangelical  Churches."  The  lan- 
guage of  these  wise  men  of  the  Church  is  truly  startling. 

In  a  manly,  straightforward,  and  logical  manner  the  address 
brought  forward  the  great  so  called  moral  questions  Moral  ques. 
of  the  day — the  sabbath  observance;  the  "tippling  tioas- 
houses  and  dram-drinking,"  together  with  the  viciousness  of 
"  license,  high  or  low  ; "  "  the  blight  of  polygamy  ;  "  marriage 
and  divorce,  and  their  relation  to  Christian  morality;  and  gam- 
bling, perjury,  bribery,  and  licentiousness,  which  are  so  abun- 
dant in  the  land.  From  these  the  Church  must  be  freed  and 
kept  forever  clear.  The  bishops  suggested  strong  and  wise 
legislation  on  these  points. 

After  a  full  discussion  of  the  subject  the  time  limit  for  pas- 
toral appointments  was  changed.    The  pastoral  term  Pastorai  term 
was  extended  to  five  years  in  ten,  while  a  presiding  extended, 
elder  might  be  appointed  to  the  same  district  six  years  in  suc- 
cession in  twelve. 

There  were  many  questions  arising  from  the  election,  of  Rev. 
William  Taylor,  bishop  for  Africa,  at  the  General  QUestions  on 
Conference  of  1884,  which  now  came  up  for  solu-  episcopacy, 
tion.  After  a  careful  examination  of  the  questions,  and  the 
study  of  the  law  under  which  he  was  elected  and  acted,,  the 
General  Conference  gave  utterance  to  their  conclusions  in  nine 
propositions  : 

Hesolved,  1.  That  a  missionary  bishop  is  a  bishop  elected  for 

•  23 


MANUAL  of 


a  specified  foreign  mission  field,  with  full  episcopal  power?, 
but  with  episcopal  jurisdiction  limited  to  the  foreign  mission 
field  for  which  he  was  elected. 

2.  That  a  missionary  bishop  is  not,  in  the  meaning  of  the 
Discipline,  a  general  superintendent. 

3.  That  a  missionary  bishop  is  not  subordinate  to  the  general 
superintendents,  but  is  co-ordinate  with  them  in  authority  in 
the  field  to  which  he  is  appointed,  and  is  amenable  for  his  con- 
duct to  the  General  Conference,  as  is  a  general  superintendent. 

4.  That  the  election  of  a  missionary  bishop  carries  with  it 
the  assignment  to  a  specified  foreign  mission  field,  and  that  a 
missionary  bishop  cannot  be  made  a  general  superintendent  ex- 
cept by  a  distinct  election  to  that  office. 

5.  That  a  missionary  bishop  should  receive  his  support  from 
the  Episcopal  Fund. 

G.  That  a  missionary  bishop  should,  in  his  field,  co-operate 
with  the  Missionary  Society  of  the  Church  in  the  same  way 
that  a  general  superintendent  co-operates  in  the  foreign  mission 
field  over  which  lie  has  episcopal  charge. 

7.  That  when  a  missionary  bishop,  by  death  or  other  cause, 
ceases  to  perform  episcopal  duty  for  the  foreign  field  to  which 
he  was  assigned  by  the  General  Conference  the  general  super- 
intendents at  once  take  supervision  of  said  field. 

8.  That  in  the  matter  of  a  transfer  of  a  preacher  from  a  field 
within  the  jurisdiction  of  a  missionary  bishop  to  a  Conference 
under  the  episcopal  supervision  of  a  general  superintendent,  or 
from  a  Conference  under  the  episcopal  supervision  of  a  general 
superintendent  to  a  field  within  the  jurisdiction  of  a  missionary 
bishop,  it  shall  require  mutual  agreement  between  the  two  bish- 
ops, and  a  similar  agreement  shall  be  required  between  the  two 
bishops  having  charge  when  the  proposed  transfer  is  between 
two  foreign  fields  over  which  there  are  missionary  bishops. 

0.  That  in  the  matter  of  a  complaint  against  or  the  trial  of 
a  missionary  bishop  the  preliminary  steps  shall  be  as  in  the 
case  of  a  general  superintendent ;  but  the  missionary  bishop 
may  be  tried  before  a  Judicial  Conference  in  the  United  States 
of  America. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  339 


The  General  Conference  arranged  the  work  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  into  one  hundred  and  eleven  Con- 

.  ,  ..         .ixT«-in  Conferences. 

ferences,  and  twelve  missions  in  the  United  States. 
The  largest  Conference  was  the  "  Africa  Conference,"  which 
included  "the  whole  of  Africa."  The  next  largest  was  the 
Bengal  Conference,  which  included  Bengal  and  Burmah  and 
such  portions  of  India  as  were  not  included  in  the  North  In- 
dia and  South  India  Conferences. 

The  House  of  Bishops  and  House  of  Clerical  and  Lay  Dele- 
gates of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 

&  i         r  Protestant 

United  States,  by  Rev.  II.  C.  Duncan,  secretary  of  Episcopal 
the  commission  appointed  by  the  Convention  of  that  Churcn- 
Church,  sent  a  paper  to  the  General  Conference  "upon  the 
subject  of  the  organic  unity  of  the  Church."  The  evidence 
was  presented  that  this  was  sent  in  good  faith  and  Christian 
candor.  The  matter  was  carefully  considered.  A  carefully 
prepared  report  was  adopted  containing  these  points : 

1.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  "  ready  to  fraternize 
and  co-operate  with  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  .  .  .  and 
to  extend  to  it  and  accept  from  it  all  Christian  courtesies  which 
are  common  and  proper  among  servants  of  our  common  Lord." 

2.  The  bishops  were  recommended  to  appoint  one  bishop, 
one  minister,  and  one  layman  as  a  commission,  "  who  shall  hold 
themselves  ready  to  enter  into  brotherly  conference  with  all  or 
any  Christian  bodies  seeking  the  restoration  of  the  organic 
unity  of  the  Church  or  the  increase  of  Christian  and  Church 
fraternity." 

There  was  a  restoration  of  the  ancient  order  of  deaconesses 
in  the  Church.  The  movement  had  been  in  progress 
for  some  months,  but  at  this  General  Conference  it 
was  given  official  recognition.  The  duties  of  the  deaconesses 
were  definitely  pointed  out :  "  To  minister  to  the  poor,  visit 
the  sick,  pray  with  the  dying,  care  for  the  orphan,  seek  the 
wandering,  comfort  the  sorrowing,  save  the  sinning,  and, 
relinquishing  wholly  all  other  pursuits,  devote  themselves  in  a 
general  way  to  such  forms  of  Christian  labor  as  may  be  suited 
to  their  abilities." 


340 


MANUAL  OF 


~No  vow  is  exacted  of  a  deaconess.  The  Annual  Conferences, 
by  a  committee  of  nine,  at  least  three  of  whom  shall  be  women, 
have  control  of  this  work  within  their  bounds.  Deaconesses 
are  put  on  a  probation- of  two  years  before  receiving  a  certifi- 
cate of  qualification.  The  deaconesses  shall  not  be  under 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  They  work  under  the  direction  of 
the  pastor  of  the  church  where  they  are  members  when  they 
are  working  singly.  When  in  a  home  they  are  "subordinate 
to  and  directed  by  the  superintendent  placed  in  charge." 

All  former  deliverances  on  the  questions  of  temperance  and 
prohibition  were  re-affirmed,  and  possibly  stronger  ut- 

Temperance    x  7  1  ^  ° 

and  pronibi-  terances  were  made.  The  Conference  indorsed  total 
abstinence;  recognized  the  value  of  scientific  tem- 
perance instruction  ;  condemned  the  raising  of  grapes  for  wine, 
hops  for  beer,  and  grain  for  whisky ;  urged  the  enforcement  of 
liquor  laws ;  expressed  gratification  at  the  decision  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States  in  December,  1887,  "  fully 
vindicating  the  most  radical  legislation  against  the  liquor  traffic 
in  our  most  advanced  prohibitory  States;"  urged  "national 
constitutional  amendments  for  the  suppression  of  the  manu- 
facture and  sale  of  alcoholic  beverages;"  and  memorialized 
Congress  to  abolish  the  liquor  traffic  in  the  District  of  Co- 
lumbia. The  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  legalizing  the 
shipping  of  intoxicating  liquors  in  original  packages  into  and 
through  prohibition  States  was  esteemed  a  great  evil,  and 
Congress  was  memorialized  to  "  adopt  such  legislation  as  will 
secure  to  States  with  prohibitory  liquor  laws  the  undisturbed 
benefits  of  the  restrictive  and  prohibitory  provisions  enacted 
for  their  self-defense  against  a  most  noxious  and  destructive 
evil."  The  transportation  of  rum  to  the  heathen  whom  Chris- 
tian people  were  seeking  to  civilize  and  Christianize  was  de- 
nounced as  an  outrage ;  this  trade  in  rum  was  worse  than 
the  slave  trade,  which  "  desolated  the  west  coast  of  Africa," 
and  caused  her  ebony  Rachels  to  mourn  for  the  children 
who  met  a  fate  worse  than  death;  "worse  than  chains  for 
innocent  babes ;  worse  than  the  prostitution  of  mothers ;  worse 
than  the  wailing  caravan ;  worse  than  the  sweltering  bar. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  341 


racoon ;  worse  than  tlio  stifling  slave-ships ;  worse  than  the 
shameless  auction-block ;  worse  than  the  fetter,  the  whip,  and 
the  separation  of  families ;  worse  than  the  traffic  in  human 
muscles  and  souls." 

John  II.  Yincent,  D.D.,  James  N.  FitzGerald,  D.D.,  Isaac 
W.  Joyce,  D.D.,  John  P.  Newman,  D.D.,  and  Daniel  rivebish0p8 
A.  Goodsell,  D.D.,  were  elected  and  consecrated  bish-  elected- 
ops  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Rev.  James  M.  Thoburn,  D.D.,  for  many  years  a  missionary 
to  India,  was  elected  missionary  bishop  for  India  and  Missionary 
Malaysia.  bishop' 

John  M.  Phillips  and  Sandford  Hunt  were  elected  agents  of 
the  Book  Concern  at  New  York ;  Earl  Cranston  and  other  ele&. 
W.  P.  Stowe,  agents  of  the  "Western  Book  Concern ;  tions- 
C.  C.  McCabe,  J.  O.  Peck,  and  A.  B.  Leonard,  missionary  secre- 
taries i  A.  J.  Ivynett,  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Church  Extension ;  J.  L.  Ilurlbut,  corresponding  secretary  of 
Sunday-School  Union  and  Tract  Society;  C.  II.  Payne,  corre- 
sponding secretary  of  Board  of  Education  ;  J.  C.  Hartzell,  cor- 
responding secretary  of  Freedmen's  Aid  and  Southern  Edu- 
cation Society  ;  J.  W.  Mendenhall,  editor  of  Methodist  Review  ; 
J.  M.  Buckley,  editor  of  The  Christian  Advocate  •  J.  II.  Bay- 
liss,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advocate  /  Arthur  Edwards, 
editor  of  North-western  Christian  Advocate y  B.  St.  J.  Fry, 
editor  Central  Christian  Advocate y  Charles  W.  Smith,  editor 
of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  O.  II.  Warren,  editor  of 
Northern  Christian  Advocate  ;  B.  F.  Crary,  editor  of  Califor- 
nia Christian  Advocate  y  A.  E.  P.  Albert,  editor  South-western 
Christian  Advocate  y  William  Nast,  editor  of  Der  Christliche 
Apologete;  Henry  Liebhart,  editor  of  Ilaus  und  Herd;  T.  C. 
Carter,  editor  of  Methodist  Advocate. 

The  addresses  of  the  fraternal  representatives  from  the  vari- 
ous Churches  were  unusually  interesting.  They  dem-  Addresses  of 
onstrated  the  increase  of  the  fraternal  spirit,  the  pos-  the  £rater°al 

r       ?  I  representa- 

sibility  of  unity  without  uniformity,  the  increase  of  tives. 

the  Churches  in  material,  intellectual,  and  spiritual  power,  and 

the  greater  care  for  the  early  religious  culture  of  the  young. 


342 


MANUAL  OF 


Rev.  Charles  II.  Kelly  represented  the  British  Conference; 
Rev.  Wesley  Guard,  the  Irish  Methodist  Conference ;  Rev.  S.  A. 
Steel,  A.M.,  D.D.,  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South  ; 
Rev.  E.  A.  Stafford,  A.M.,  the  Methodist  Church  of  Canada ; 
Charles  J.  Baker  and  Rev.  J.  T.  "Wightman,  D.D.,  the  Maryland 
Association  of  Independent  Methodist  Churches ;  Rev.  C.  T. 
Shaffer,  M.D.,  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
addresses  of  these  fraternal  representatives  will  well  repay  the 
time  and  labor  of  perusal. 

After  a  session  of  twenty-seven  days,  and  a  complete  review 
of  all  the  interests  of  the  Church,  the  General  Con- 
ference adjourned.    Bishop  Bowman,  senior  bishop, 
gave  a  short  but  interesting  address.    The  doxology  was  sung 
and  the  benediction  was  pronounced,  and  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  18S8  became  a  matter  of  history. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  343 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

EVENTS  FOLLOWING  THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1888. 

John  M.  Phillips,  senior  agent  of  the  Book  Concern  at  New 
York,  died  at  his  home  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  January  Death of  Joha 
15,  1889.  He  was  elected  book  agent  in  1872  and  m.  Phillips, 
proved  himself  admirably  adapted  to  the  work.  From  his  boy- 
hood until  his  election  as  agent  at  New  York  he  was  connected 
with  the  Book  Concern  at  Cincinnati. 

The  Book  Committee  on  the  13th  of  February,  1889,  elected 
Dr.  Homer  Eaton  book  agent  in  place  of  John  M.   Dr.  Homer 

t-v,  .  mi  r-  Eaton,  succes- 

Phillips,  deceased.  The  name  of  the  firm  was  made  sorof  jonnM. 
to  read  Hunt  &  Eaton.  PMlips* 

In  1882  a  movement  was  made  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  toward 
providing  a  home  for  aged  Methodists.  It  sprang  Brooklyn 
from  a  scathing  rebuke  made  to  Rev.  Thomas  Ste-  Methodist 

t>  Home  for  the 

phenson,  pastor  of  Pacific  Street  Church,  when  he  Aged, 
was  trying  to  find  a  home  for  one  of  his  worthy  parishioners. 
The  remark  was  :  "  You  Methodists  ought  to  have  a  home  of 
your  own."  A  movement  was  at  once  started,  and  in  a  short 
time  a  cheerful  refuge  for  twenty  inmates  was  secured.  In 
May,  1889,  an  excellent  building  was  dedicated,  capable  of 
accommodating  sixty  guests,  besides  matron  and  servants.  It 
has  two  hospital-rooms,  sitting-rooms,  and  all  the  modern  im- 
provements belonging  to  such  an  institution.  It  is  an  honor  to 
Brooklyn  Methodism. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  II.  Bayliss,  D.D.,  died  at  Bay  Yiew,  Mich., 
August  14,  1889.  His  age  was  fifty-four  years.  j>eatn  0f  j)r 
An  Englishman  by  birth,  he  commenced  his  minis-  J-  h.  Bayiiss, 
try  in  the  Genesee  Conference  in  Western  New  em  christian 
York ;  from  thence  he  was  transferred  to  Chicago  ;  Advocate- 
and  after  the  great  fire  was  appointed  to  Roberts  Park,  Indi- 
anapolis.   Fie  was  afterward  a  pastor  at  Detroit,  Mich.  In 


MANUAL  OF 


1884  lie  became  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate, 
which  lie  conducted  with  marked  ability. 

In  September,  18S9,  the  Book  Committee  elected  Rev.  David 
Rev.  d.  h.  H.  Moore,  D.D.,  late  chancellor  of  Denver  Uni- 
wiXr^west-  versity,  editor  of  the  Western  Christian  Advocate, 
em  christian   to  fill  the  place  made  vacant  by  the  death  of  Dr. 

Advocate.  *  ^ 

Bayliss. 

The  John  Crouse  Memorial  College  for  Women  was  formally 
John  crouse  0Pened  September  18,  18S9,  as  one  of  the  depart- 
Memoriai  Coi-  ments  of  Syracuse  University.  This  is  a  magnificent 
building,  one  hundred  and  ninety  feet  long  by  one 
hundred  and  sixty  feet  wide,  and  to  the  top  of  the  tower  is  one 
hundred  and  seventy-two  feet.  It  was  commenced  by  Mr.  John 
Crouse  ;  but  on  his  death  his  son,  Mr.  D.  Edgar  Crouse,  took  up 
the  enterprise  and  completed  it  to  the  memory  of  his  father. 
It  is  a  worthy  memorial,  and  as  a  part  of  an  educational  system 
will  accomplish  untold  good. 

';  The  Epworth  League  was  formed  by  a  conference  of  the 
The  Epworth  representatives  of  five  Methodist  Young  People's 
League  of  the   Societies,  held  in  Cleveland,  O.,  May  14  and  15, 1889. 

MethodistT  ..  „  " .  \.  „  . 

Episcopal  It  was  born  ot  a  desire  to  unite  the  young  hie  ot 
church.  Methodism  for  the  attainment  of  the  best  spiritual 
gifts  and  the  highest  religious  efficiency.  During  the  first  nine 
months  of  its  existence,  although  the  organization  was  necessa- 
rily provisional  and  somewhat  incomplete,  it  grew  until  nearly 
two  thousand  chapters  were  enrolled  at  the  central  office.  A 
Board  of  Control  is  now  constituted,  which  held  its  first  regular 
meeting  at  Clark  Street  Church,  Chicago,  February  6  and  7, 1890. 
It  was  composed  of  representatives  from  every  section  of  the 
Church  in  the  United  States.  Every  feature  of  the  organiza- 
tion was  carefully  considered  by  this  body,  the  constitution 
remodeled,  a  special  organ  provided,  and  the  work  put  upon  a 
permanent  basis."  It  proposes  to  form  a  league  in  each  presid- 
ing elder's  district,  and  an  auxiliary  league  in  each  pastoral 
charge.  It  proposes  as  a  positive  work  to  help  the  young  peo- 
ple of  the  Church  to  "attain  to  the  highest  New  Testament 
standard  of  experience  and  life."    As  a  negative  work  it  pro- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  345 


poses  that  its  members  shall  abstain  from  all  those  forms  of 
worldly  amusements  forbidden  by  the  Discipline  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  For  personal  work  it  proposes  that 
its  members  shall  attend  the  religious  meetings  of  the  League 
and  the  Church,  and  "  take  some  active  part  in  them."  The 
spirit  of  the  Epworth  League  is  sweeping  over  the  Church 
in  every  part,  and  wielding  an  influence  for  the  highest 
good. 

A  few  months  later  the  form  of  the  Epworth  League  was 
adopted  by  the  authorities  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  South,  as  their  young  people's  organization  for  church 
work. 

The  Epworth  Herald  is  a  sixteen-page  weekly  paper,  pub- 
lished by  the  Western  Book  Concern,  in  the  interest  Epworth 
of  the  League.  Its  editor  is  J.  F.  Berry,  D.D.,  of  Herald- 
Michigan.  The  first  number  appeared  July  1,  1890.  It  is  an 
excellent,  sprightly,  bright,  thoroughly  Methodistic  and  Chris- 
tian paper.  The  possibilities  of  this  paper  and  of  the  societies 
it  represents  are  beyond  safe  prediction. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1890,  it  was  announced  that  Bishop 
Hurst  proposed  to  establish  at  Washington,  D.  C, 
a  great  National  Methodist  University  for  post-  tionai under- 
graduate study.  This,  or  a  similar  enterprise,  was  Wash" 
proposed  by  both  Bishops  Ames  and  Simpson. 
Bishop  Hurst  took  hold  of  the  enterprise  with  his  accustomed 
zeal.  lie  made  a  purchase  of  what  is  known  as  the  Davis  prop- 
erty for  a  site  for  the  university.  "While  he  realized  the  mag- 
nitude of  the  enterprise  he  believed  it  one  that  will  be  crowned 
with  success. 

The  death  of  Dr.  Joseph  Cummings,  president  of  the  North- 
western University,  Evanston,  occurred  May  7,  1890.  Deathof  Dr< 
He  graduated  at  Wesleyan  University  in  1840.  cummings. 
After  serving  as  a  pastor  of  several  charges,  and  president  of 
Genesee  College,  he. was  elected  president  of  Wesleyan  Univer- 
sity in  1857.  He  served  the  Church  in  four  General  Confer- 
ences. Dr.  Cummings  was  a  strong  man,  an  excellent  disci- 
plinarian, and  a  good  preacher. 


346 


MANUAL  OF 


May  15,  1790,  Bishop  Asbury  held  the  first  Conference 
•    of    the    Methodist    Episcopal    Church    west  of 

Centennial  of  1 1  x 

Kentucky   the  Alleghany  Mountains  and  in  the  Mississippi 

Methodism.        tt  fl         '  m . '     . «  j_-  r    ,-\  • 

\  alley,  Exercises  commemorative  01  this  event 
were  held  May  15,  1890,  in  Lexington,  Ivy.  Two  memorial 
services  were  held.  One  was  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  one  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South. 
The  old  log-house  where  this  Conference  was  held  is  still  stand- 
ing at  Masterson's  Station.  "  It  is  a  two-story  log-house,  about 
six  miles  from  Lexington.  The  two  rooms  and  stair-way  re- 
main as  they  were  a  century  ago,  and  the  original  wide  fire- 
place, all  in  a  good  state  of  preservation." 

The  noted  Methodist  layman,  General  Clinton  B.  Eisk,  died 

at  Xew  York  July,  1890.  He  was  one  of  the  best- 
Death  of  Gen-  . 

erai  ciinton  known  Methodist  laymen  in  the  United  States.  He 
was  a  brave  soldier,  a  loyal  citizen,  an  earnest  phi- 
lanthropist, and  thoroughly  devoted  to  God  and  the  Church. 
He  had,  as  lay  delegate,  been  a  member  of  all  the  General  Con- 
ferences from  1ST2  to  1888,  excepting  1876. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Utah  Mission  in  1SSS  a  com- 
utah  univer-  mittee  of  nine  was  appointed  to  locate  a  university 
sity-  fur  the  inter-Rocky  Mountain  country.    The  sub- 

ject was  carefully  considered  by  the  committee  at  their  meet- 
ing in  Salt  Lake  City.  There  were  three  places  bidding  for  it. 
At  last  it  was  located  at  Ogden.  The  corner-stone  of  the 
Utah  University  was  laid  by  Bishop  Vincent  August  19,  1S90. 
Rev.  Samuel  W.  Small,  D.D.,  had  been  elected  president  of 
the  university,  but  retained  the  position  only  a  few  months. 

The  dedicatory  services  of  the  new  Methodist  Publishing 
and  Mission  Building,  150  Fifth  Avenue,  Xew  York,  oc- 
Dedication  of  enrred  on  the  evening  of  February  11,  1890.  This 
concern  Band  was  the  third  great  building  erected  or  purchased 
i^gSiantBxew  for  the  use  of  the  Methodist  publishing  interests  and 
York-  the  Missionary  Society  in  Xew  York.    The  first  was 

at  200  Mulberry  Street,  the  second  at  £06  Broadway,  and  the 
third  is  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Twentieth  Street. 
The  other  buildings  have  been  sold  and  the  machinery  and 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  347 


interests  of  this  great  publishing  interest  consolidated  in  one 
place.  William  Hoyt  was  the  president  of  the  evening.  After 
song,  prayer,  and  responsive  reading  of  the  122d  Psalm  ad- 
dresses were  delivered  by  Bishop  Andrews,  Drs.  Earl  Cranston, 
M.  D'C.  Crawford,  and  G.  S.  Chadbourne.  The  cost  of  the 
ground  on  which  the  building  is  located  was  $430,000,  and  of 
the  building  $668,000,  or  $1,107,000  for  the  property. 

On  the  evening  of  February  13, 1890,  a  mass-meeting  was  held 
in  the  Metropolitan  Opera  House,  New  York,  at 
which  addresses  were  delivered  duly  chronicling  ^tL^ietr"- 
the  historv  of  the  Book  Concern  and  Missionary  P°litan  °Pera 

■  »  House. 

Society,  and  the  great  work  these  have  wrought  in 
the  Church  and  for  the  Church.  Bishop  Andrews  presided. 
Bishop  Foss  spoke  on  "  Tongue  and  Type,  Joint  Agencies  in 
Civilization  ; "  Dr.  Sandford  Hunt  spoke  of  "  The  Work  of 
the  Book  Concern ; "  Dr.  A.  B.  Leonard,  of  "  The  Missionary 
Society;"  General  C.  B.  Fisk,  of  "The  Founders  of  the  Meth- 
odist Book  Concern ;  "  and  Dr.  J.  M.  Buckley,  of  "  Methodist 
Literature.'5 

In  October,  1890,  was  held  in  Boston  the  centennial  of  the 
introduction  of  Methodism  into  ]STew  England.  The 

°  Centennial  of 

exercises  were  held  in  Faneuil  Hall.    Jesse  Lee   New  England 
could  not  have  anticipated,  in  his  most  brilliant  day-  Methodlsm- 
dreams,  such  a  wonderful  growth  of  Methodist  Christianity  as 
was  here  displayed. 

A  Survey  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  the 
Close  of  1890. 

After  one  hundred  and  twenty-four  years  of  Methodist  life 
in  America  and  one  hundred  and  six  years  of  the  organized 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United  States,  it  is  proper 
to  look  back  and  out,  to  see  where  the  Church  stands.  In  the 
United  States  are  4,747,130  Methodists  of  all  kinds.  There 
are  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  alone  2,283,154  mem- 
bers and  probationers  and  14,792  itinerant  preachers,  making  a 
total  of  members  of  2,297.946.  There  are  14,072  local  preach- 
ers ;  22,833  church  buildings,  valued  at  $96,350,482,  and  8,563 


MANUAL  OF 


parsonages,  valued  at  $14,450,264 ;  205  schools  and  colleges ; 
value  of  buildings,  $13,397,578,  and  endowments,  less  indebt- 
edness, $8,707,522,  or  a  total  of  church  and  educational  prop- 
erty of  §132,905,840. 

Comparing  Methodism  with  other  denominations  it  is  found 
that  the  figures  show : 

Sects.  No.  Members. 

Methodists                                                     18  4,747,130 

Baptists                                                         15  3,974,589 

Presbyteiiaus                                                 13  1,259,234 

Lutherans                                                        1  1,05G,000 

Congregationalists                                            1  475,608 

Episcopalians                                                   2  459,642 

Reformed                                                        3  277,732 

Unionistic                                                       2  270,000 

Unitarians                                                       7  206,500 

Adventists                                                       7  119,212 

Mennonites                                                   4  100,000 

Quakers  (Friends)                                              3  83,930 

Universahsts                                                    1  38,780 

Moravians                                                       1  11,219 

78  13,079,576 

The  Roman  Catholics  claim  to  have  8,012,970  members  ;  but 
if  the  Methodists  were  to  count  their  membership  on  the  same 
basis  as  do  the  Romanists  they  could  claim  a  membership  of 
11,807,725  ;  or,  if  the  Protestants  of  the  United  States  as  a 
whole  should  calculate  their  membership  on  the  same  basis  as 
the  Romanists  there  would  be  32,698,790  Protestants. 

The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
has  not  been  inactive,  but  lias  carried  the  work  to  all  the  con- 
tinents of  the  world  and  to  some  of  the  isles  of  the  sea.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  Missionary  Board  in  1819  the  Church 
has  received  and  paid  out  over  §25,000,000  for  missions,  and 
lias  sent  out  hundreds  of  men  and  women  as  preachers  and 
teachers  of  the  Gospel,  and  large  numbers  have  been  gathered 
into  the  Church.  Conferences  have  been  established  in  fields 
where  forty  years  ago  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  had  not 
one  member. 

The  Church  Extension  Board,  since  its  organization  to  1890, 


MimiODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


349 


a  period  of  twenty-five  years,  lias  received  and  paid  out  for 
church  building  $4,017,977.87.  The  number  of  churches  built 
or  aided  in  that  time  is  7,399. 

The  Freedmen's  Aid  Society  has  been  occupying  the  South- 
land and  has  sought  the  culture  of  both  freedmen  and  white 
people.  Schools,  academies,  and  colleges  have  been  built  up, 
in  which  thousands  of  men  and  women  have  been,  and  others 
are  being,  educated.  The  great  heart  of  the  Church  has  been 
touched  with  a  kindly  sympathy  for  these  people,  and  money, 
teachers,  and  preachers  have  been  furnished  in  no  stinted 
measure. 

The  Sunday-School  Union  at  the  beginning  of  the  year  1890 
had  25,828  Sunday-schools,  286,768  officers  and  teachers, 
2,188,077  scholars,  491,429  in  the  infant  classes,  1,871,139 
library  books,  610,861  scholars  members  of  the  Church,  and 
119,654  conversions  in  the  preceding  year. 

The  Tract  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is 
doing,  in  a  somewhat  silent  and  unobtrusive  way,  an  excellent 
work.  During  the  year  it  printed  at  New  York  and  Cincin- 
nati 1,339,500  copies  of  tracts  containing  11,277,000  pages. 
These  are  in  many  languages.  Prominent  in  foreign  tongues  is 
the  German,  whereof  250,000  tracts  of  1,400,000  pages  were 
printed.  Publications  in  the  Italian,  Danish,  Swedish,  French, 
Bulgarian,  Hindu,  Chinese,  Japanese,  and  other  languages  have 
been  issued. 

There  wras  formed  in  1882,  and  continues  to  the  present,  the 
"Norwegian  Loan  Library,"  which  provides  boxes  of  selected 
books  of  the  best  moral  and  religious  sort,  which  are  placed 
"  on  board  Norwegian  and  Danish  vessels  for  the  use  of  sailors 
on  their  long  voyages."  These  books  are  carried  all  over  the 
oceans  and  seas,  and  after  being  read  in  one  ship  are  trans- 
ferred to  another,  and  then  to  another.  A  proper  report  is 
made  to  the  officer  at  New  York,  so  that  he  knows  at  any  time 
to  what  ship  any  particular  box  of  books  is  loaned.  With 
these  reports  come  accounts  of  the  great  good  that  accrues  from 
the  perusal  of  these  books. 

The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  from  1870  to  1890 


350 


MANUAL  OF 


lias  raised  and  expended  $2,333,650.48.  It  lias  ninety-six  mis- 
sionaries in  the  foreign  field.  It  lias  opened  the  departments 
of  medical  work  in  foreign  countries,  which  the  parent  Mis- 
sionary Society  has  prosecuted  with  such  success  for  many 
years.  The  paper  published  monthly  by  this  society,  The 
Heathen  Woman  s  Friend,  is  a  superior  missionary  paper,  and 
is  constantly  freighted  with  missionary  information. 

The  Toman's  Home  Missionary  Society  is  doing  its  share  of 
work  in  the  home  field.  It  has  not  been  so  long  organized  nor 
had  so  full  an  opportunity  to  evidence  its  powers  for  spreading 
the  Gospel  and  blessing  the  sorrowing  as  other  organizations  of 
the  Church ;  but  it  is  moving  on  to  as  fine  a  success. 

The  Board  of  Education,  organized  in  1868,  has  demonstrated 
that  it  has  a  large  field  in  which  to  operate.  Its  collections 
have  amounted  to  over  8250,000,  which  lias  been  loaned  to 
young  men  and  women  in  Methodist  schools  seeking  an  educa- 
tion. The  Board  reports  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
205  schools  of  high  grade,  with  buildings  valued  at  $13,397,578, 
and  endowment  of  $9,31:S,796,  less  an  indebtedness  of  8611, 271, 
employing  1,722  teachers.  In  these  are  over  34,656  students. 
From  the  beginning  there  have  been  about  350,000  students 
under  special  Methodist  culture. 

At  every  point  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  seems  to  be 
growing  and  strengthening.  There  is  as  yet  no  appearance  of 
decay,  change  of  doctrines,  perversion  of  teaching,  or  less  of 
the  heroic  spirit  of  the  fathers  among  the  sons.  Revivals  are 
common.  Spirituality  is  found  in  every  part  of  Zion.  The 
Bible  in  its  purity  is  preached.  "While  thousands  are  coming 
into  the  Church  there  are  thousands  going  to  heaven  and  enter- 
ing the  Church  triumphant.  Mr.  Wesley's  words  are  still  true, 
"  Our  people  die  well.'' 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


351 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

SECOND  ECUMENICAL  METHODIST  CONFERENCE. 

John  Wesley  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  witnessed  to  some 
extent  the  remarkable  growth  of  the  Church  he  had  Anniversary 
founded.  But  the  growth  of  Methodism  since  his  of  the  death 
day  in  all  that  constitutes  a  great  Church  has  been  iey,March2, 
something  marvelous.  In  commemoration  of  the  189L 
centennial  of  his  death,  many  churches  held  special  and  appro- 
priate services.  Most  of  the  papers  of  the  Church  devoted  a 
large  space  to  appreciative  articles  regarding  Mr.  Wesley  and 
his  work;  his  entire  consecration;  his  system;  the  fact  that  he 
sought  the  best,  not  the  easiest,  way  to  success ;  his  intuitive 
understanding  of  the  religious  needs  of  the  times;  his  making 
a  Christian  experience  the  sole  condition  of  membership ;  his 
love  of  souls;  his  power  of  concentration;  his  catholicity  of 
spirit;  his  relation  to  Christian  hynmology,  etc. 

Dr.  Daniel  P.  Kidder  was  one  of  the  active  men  of  Meth- 
odism for  more  than  half  a  century.  He  was  Death  of  Dp; 
born  at  Darien,  H.  Y.,  October  18,  1815,  graduated  D- Kidder- 
from  Wcsleyan  University  in  1886,  entered  the  ministry  the 
next  year,  and  went  to  Brazil  as  a  missionary,  where  he  preached 
the  first  Protestant  sermon  ever  delivered  on  the  Amazon. 
After  returning  to  the  United  States  he  published,  in  connection 
with  Dr.  Fletcher,  a  book  on  Brazil  and  the  Brazilians.  Ho 
was  elected  editor  of  Sunday-school  publications  and  tracts,  and 
corresponding  secretary  of  the  Sunday-School  Union  in  181-1; 
became  professor  of  practical  theology  in  Garrett  Biblical  Insti- 
tute in  1856,  and  on  the  death  of  Dr.  Dempster  became  presi- 
dent of  the  faculty.  After  fifteen  years'  service  at  Evanston  he 
was  elected  to  the  same  chair  in  Drew  Theological  Seminary. 
He  served  for  a  time  as  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Education.    Dr.  Kidder  was  a  strong  man  in  many  ways, 


352 


MANUAL  OF 


and  always  filled  his  place  and  performed  liis  work  with  credit 
to  himself  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  Church.  It  was  said  of 
him,  "  No  one  ever  heard  of  his  doing  or  saying  any  thing  incon- 
sistent with  his  moral  character  and  religious  profession."  He 
died  July  29,  1891,  at  Evanston,  111. 

The  Second  Ecumenical  Methodist  Conference  assembled  in 
second  Ecu-  Washington,  D.  C,  October  7,  1891.  Eor  several 
menicaiMeth-  mont]ls  the  Committee  on  Programme  and  Arran^c- 

cdist  Confer-  o  & 

ence.  ments,  at  whose  head  was  Bishop  Hurst,  had  been 

busy,  by  correspondence,  making  ready  for  this  great  and 
eventful  gathering,  which  was  to  be  representative  of  all  the 
Methodist  bodies  or  Churches  on  the  globe.  Delegates  were 
present  from  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  the  islands  of  the  sea,  and 
from  America.  Oceans  proved  no  barrier  to  such  a  gathering 
of  enthusiastic  workers  in  the  Master's  cause.  The  Committee 
on  Programme  laid  out  work  for  fourteen  days,  from  October  7 
to  20,  consisting  of  sermons,  essays,  and  discussions.  The  topics 
selected  were  designed  to  cover  the  live  issues  of  the  day  of 
especial  interest  to  a  wrorld-wicle  aggressive  Methodism. 

The  delegates  had  been  apportioned,  as  nearly  as  practicable, 

according  to  the  number  of  members  in  the  Churches. 

To  the  Eastern  section  there  were  apportioned  184  del- 
egates :  distributed  to  the  Wesleyan  Church,  77;  Irish  Meth- 
odist, 12  ;  Methodist  New  Connexion,  12  ;  Primitive  Methodist, 
31;  Bible  Christian,  10;  United  Methodist  Free  Church,  21; 
French  Methodist,  2 ;  Australasian  Methodist,  10 ;  Indepen- 
dent Methodist,  2  ;  Wesleyan  Reform  Union,  4;  South  African 
Methodist,  1 ;  and  West  Indian  Methodist,  2.  To  the  Western 
section  were  assigned  311  delegates :  distributed  to  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  126 ;  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South,  G4 ;  Methodist  Church  in  Canada,  24 ;  African  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church,  19  ;  African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion, 
15 ;  Colored  Methodist  Episcopal,  9 ;  Methodist  Protestant,  9 ; 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  7 ;  American  Wesleyan  Church,  6; 
Union  American  Methodist  Episcopal,  3;  African  Union 
Methodist  Protestant,  3 ;  Free  Methodist,  3  ;  Congregational 
Methodist,  3;  Primitive  Methodist,  3;  British  Methodist  Epis- 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  353 


copal j  3 ;  Independent  Methodist,  2 ;  and  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  (Old  Constitution),  2. 

At  10:30  A.  M.,  October  7,  1891,  the  senior  bishop  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Rev.  Thomas  Bowman, 

1         *  7  t  7  Organization 

called  the  great  audience  gathered  in  Metropolitan  of  tbe  con- 
Church  to  order,  and  announced  the  hymn  com-  ference" 
mencing —  _       •  , .  .  „ 

°  "Jesus,  the  Name  high  over  all. 

After  the  singing  of  this  hymn  Bishop  Keener,  senior  bishop 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  led  in  prayer,  clos- 
ing with  the  Lord's  Prayer,  which  was  repeated  by  the  vast 
assemblage.  After  the  prayer  Bishop  Wayman,  of  the  African 
Episcopal  Church,  led  the  audience  in  the  recitation  of  the 
Apostles'  Creed.  Bev.  William  Arthur,  who  may  well  be  styled 
the  patriarch  of  British  Wesleyan  Methodism,  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  deliver  the  opening  sermon.  lie  had  made  full 
preparation,  but  found  that  his  voice  was  insufficient  for  the 
task  of  delivery.  The  sermon  was  read  by  Bev.  Dr.  Stephen- 
son; president  of  the  Wesleyan  Conference.  This  sermon  was 
worthy  of  the  occasion,  the  author,  the  reader.  Following,  the 
sermon  was  the  administration  of  the  holy  communion,,  con- 
ducted by  Bishop  Foster  and  others,  to  a  large  number  of  com- 
municants representing  the  world-wide  Methodism. 

At  the  afternoon  session  Bishop  Keener  presided.  Bishop 
Hurst,  chairman  of  the  committee,  delivered  an  ad- 

7  (  Addresses  of 

dress  of  welcome ;  and  as  he  referred  to  the  different   welcome  and 

countries  of  the  world  represented  in  that  Methodist  resp0Ilses- 

Conference  it  sent  a  thrill  through  many  hearts  as  they  realized 

how  far  Methodism  had  gone  and  how  wide  was  its  extent. 

Dr.  James  II.  Carlisle,  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 

South,  followed  with  an  eloquent  review  of  the  advance  of 

Methodism.    Bev.  George  Douglass,  D.D.,  of  the  Methodist 

Church  of  Canada,  followed.    To  these  eloquent  addresses  of 

welcome  replies  were  made  by  Dr.  Stephenson,  president  of  the 

Wesleyan  Conference ;  Mr.  George  Green,  a  layman  of  the 

Primitive  Methodist  Church;  and  Bev.  B.  Abercrombie,  M.A., 

of  the  United  Methodist  Free  Church. 
24 


354 


MANUAL  OF 


The  Committee  on  Programme  had  arranged  each  day's  work 
subjects  dis-  under  special  topics  as  follows  :  Ecumenical  Method- 
cussed.  jsm  .  Xhe  Christian  Church,  its  Essential  Union  and 
Genuine  Catholicity  ;  The  Church  and  Scientific  Thought ;  The 
Church  and  her  Agencies ;  Education  ;  Temperance ;  Social 
Problems  ;  Missions ;  War  and  Peace  ;  The  Church  and.  Public 
Morality;  and,  The  Outlook. 

These  topics  were  ably  presented  in  essays  and  discussions, 
and  held  the  attention,  not  only  of  the  delegates,  but  of  the 
immense  audiences  from  all  parts  of  the  country  which  attended 
the  sessions  of  the  Conference.  A  synopsis  in  this  place  of  the 
papers  read  and  addresses  delivered  would  be  interesting  and 
profitable;  but  we  refer  our  readers  to  the  full  record  of  the 
proceedings  issued  by  the  Book  Concern. 

President  Benjamin  Harrison,  the  honored  chief  magistrate 
The  confer-  of  the' United  States,  received  and  entertained  the 
ence    enter-   Ecumenical  Conference  at  the  White  House  Octo- 

tamed  at  the 

white  House,  ber  12.  The  reception  occurred  in  the  "East 
Room.''  Bishop  Hurst  introduced  each  member  of  the  Con- 
ference to  President  and  Mrs.  Harrison,  who  received  them  in 
their  most  cordial  manner.  The  English  delegates  were  greatly 
surprised  at  the  marked  "  simplicity  and  absence  of  formality 
in  the  reception." 

The  evening  of  October  12  was  set  apart  for  the  public  re- 
Fratemai  del-  ception  of  fraternal  delegates  from  other  religious 
ofherchiT  bodies-  Dr.  Stephenson,  of  England,  presided, 
es.  The  credentials  of  Dr.  Chambers  from  the  Pan- 

Presbyterian  Council  were  read,  and  he  delivered  an  address. 
He  was  accompanied  by  Pev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  who  also  ad« 
dressed  the  Conference.  Dr.  W.  Hugh  Merkland  was  intro- 
duced from  the  Presbyterian  Church,  South,  and  Pev.  Mr. 
Green,  representing  the  Baptist  Churches  of  the  District  of 
Columbia.  The  addresses  of  these  gentlemen  bore  fraternal 
greetings  and  good-will  from  some  of  the  greatest  and  best 
workers  of  sister-Churches. 

In  a  truly  democratic  manner  President  Harrison  visited  the 
session  of  the  Conference  October  17  and  was  introduced  to 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


355 


the  Conference  by  the  president.  The  delegates  received  him 
with  great  respect  and  enthusiasm.  Ho  addressed  President 
the  Conference  in  a  short,  happy,  and  appropriate  ^"tlTtite 
manner.  The  subject  that  was  under  discussion  in  conference, 
the  Conference  was  "International  Arbitration.1'  He  touched 
upon  this  important  question,  which  was  of  such  vital  interest 
to  all  the  nations  of  the  world,  "in  so  felicitous  a  manner  as  to 
leave  nothing  else  to  bo  said  as  to  substance  or  doctrine."  It 
was  again  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  the  English  delegates 
that  the  chief  executive  of  the  United  States  should  be  able  so 
freely  to  attend  and  mingle  with  the  citizens.  Their  ideas  of 
the  chief  executive  of  a  nation  were  of  royalty  surrounded  by 
such  environments  as  prevent  him  from  coming  in  contact 
with  the  people  and  the  people  with  him.  They  were  not  pre- 
pared for  such  freedom  as  wTas  seen  on  the  part  of  President 
Harrison. 

A  Pastoral  Address  was  adopted,  signed  by  all  the  presidents 
of  the  Conference  and  the  four  secretaries,  and  sent   _  .    .  . . 

7  Pastoral  Ad- 

out  to  the  whole  Church.  After  rendering  glory  to  dress  of  sec- 
God  for  all  the  prosperity  which  he  had  given  the  icai  confer- 
Churches  it  recognized  the  substantial  unity  which  ence- 
exists  anions  the  various  Methodist  Churches.  "  The  time  has 
come  for  a  closer  co-operation  of  the  Methodist  Churches,  both 
at  home  and  abroad,  which  shall  prevent  waste  of  power  and 
unhallowed  rivalry."  The  address  eloquently  pleads  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  millions  who  have  a  hard  lot  in  life;  the  bringing 
them  into  sympathy  with  the  Church ;  the  purity  of  woman ; 
care  for  the  Christian  Sabbath  ;  the  sanctity  of  home  ;  the 
uprooting  and  extermination  of  intemperance,  "the  fruitful 
mother  of  a  brood  of  evils ; "  the  discountenancing  of  betting 
and  gambling  ;  reckless  speculation  in  business  ;  unfair  competi- 
tion ;  and  for  courts  of  arbitration  to  take  the  place  of  "  aggress- 
ive war."  The  address  gave  wise  counsel  concerning  economy 
of  Methodist  resources,  as  in  the  pastoral  work  of  class-leaders, 
local  preachers,  the  young  men  and  women  of  the  mission 
bands,  and  the  delicate  sensibilities,  the  tact,  the  tenderness, 
and  the  persuasive  power  of  holy  women.    The  care  for  the 


35G 


MANUAL  OF 


children  of  the  Church,  the  Ep worth  League,  the  education  of 
the  young  people,  and  the  foreign  missions  of  Methodism  were 
highly  commended.  To  accomplish  God's  great  purposes  the 
Church  was  recommended  to  use  "  the  pulpit  and  the  press,  the 
school  and  the  university,  science  and  art,  social  influence  and 
the  ballot-box."  The  address  was  a  strong,  well-conceived,  and 
finely  constructed  paper. 

Arrangements  were  made  for  the  holding  of  a  Third  Ecumen- 
Ammgements  ical  Conference  early  in  the  next  century.  An 
umenicafcon-  executive  committee  was  provided,  with  a  raember- 
ference.  ship  on  the  basis  of  the  membership  of  the  second 
Ecumenical  Conference,  having  eighty  members,  divided  into 
the  Eastern  section  of  thirty  members  and  the  Western  of  fifty 
members.  The  several  Churches  were  to  appoint  the  members 
of  the  Commission.  To  this  Commission  was  given  definite 
powers  and  rules  under  which  they  may  act  in  arranging  for 
the  next  Ecumenical  Methodist  Conference. 

This  memorable  Conference  of  Methodists,  having  com- 
pleted its  programme  of  exercises  and  discussions, 

Adjournment.       ,.  ,       .  .  ,..  ~ 

adjourned  with  appropriate  religious  exercises  Oc- 
tober 20,  1891,  and  its  members  went  forth  with  a  renewed 
consecration  and  enthusiasm  to  their  work. 

Dr.  Benjamin  St.  James  Fry  died  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  February 
Death  of  Dr.  5,  1892.  He  was  born  in  Rutledge,  Tenn.,  in  1824 ; 
b.  st.  j.  Fry.  was  educated  at  Woodward  College,  Cincinnati,  O. ; 
entered  the  ministry  in  the  Ohio  Conference  and  engaged  in 
pastoral  work;  was  president  of  the  "Worthington  Female  Col- 
lege ;  chaplain  in  the  army  three  years  ;  went  to  St.  Louis  to  take 
charge  of  the  Book  Concern  interests ;  in  1872  was  elected  editor 
of  the  Central  Christian  Advocate,  and  continued  in  that  office 
to  the  time  of  his  death.  Dr.  Fry  was  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  1872  and  of  each  succeeding  General  Con- 
ference to  1888,  and  of  the  Second  Ecumenical  Conference. 
He  was  an  excellent  editor  and  a  firm  defender  of  the  principles 
of  Methodism.  His  early  education  had  not  been  neglected, 
and  his  love  for  Christianity  and  the  Church  made  him  one  of 
the  most  faithful  and  useful  men  of  the  Church. 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


357 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

THE  GENERAL  CONFERENCE  OF  1892  AND  ITS  ACTS. 

The  delegates  met  Monday,  May  2,  1892,  in  Boyd's  Opera 
House,  Omaha,  Neb.,  to  hold  the  twenty-first  delegated  Gen- 
eral Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Thomas 
Bowman,  senior  bishop,  presided.  All  the  bishops  were 
present  at  the  Conference,  namely,  BowTman,  Foster,  Merrill, 
Andrews,  Warren,  Foss,  Hurst,  Ninde,  "Walden,  Mallalieu, 
Fowler,  Yincent,  FitzGerald,  Joyce,  Newman,  and  Goodsell. 
Missionary  Bishops  Taylor  and  Thoburn  were  also  present. 
The  opening  religious  exercises  were  of  a  delightful  and  spirit- 
ual character. 

Dr.  David  S.  Monroe,  secretary  of  the  last  General  Confer- 
ence, called  the  roll  of  delegates-elect,  and  there 

,  .     .  Organization. 

being  a  majority  of  clerical  and  lay  delegates  present 
the  organization  was  completed  by  the  election  of  Dr.  D.  S. 
Monroe  as  secretary,  and  M.  S.  Hard  and  Charles  G.  Hudson 
as  assistant  secretaries. 

After  the  first  day  the  Conference  adjourned  to  Exposition 
Hall,  and  all  subsequent  sessions  were  held  in  that  Hall. 

The  motion  to  arrange  the  sittings  of  the  lay  delegates  separate 
from  the  ministers,  but  under  the  same  presidency,  separate  sit- 
wras  discussed  and  adopted.  tings* 

The  General  Conference  of  1888  appointed  a  Commission  to 
prepare  "a  formal  definition  or  identification  of  the 

-1     A  #>  Report  of  the 

organic  law  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  constitutional 
the  Constitution  of  the  General  Conference."  The  Commisslon- 
Commission  consisted  of  three  bishops,  seven  ministers,  and  seven 
laymen.  They  reported  "  The  organic  law  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  "  under  three  parts.  A  minority  report  was 
also  presented  by  John  W.  Ray.  After  much  discussion  the 
matter  was  referred  to  the  next  General  Conference. 


358 


MANUAL  OF 


Bishop  Foster  presented  and  read  the  address  of  the  bishops, 
which  was  a  careful  and  masterly  review  of  the  Church  for 
the  past  quadrennium  and  an  outlook  to  the  future.  The  lives 
of  the  bishops  had  been  spared,  though  four  General  Confer- 
Bishops'  ad-  ence  °fficers  and  other  prominent  laymen  and  min- 
dress.  isters  had  fallen.   The  episcopal  visitation  of  foreign 

missions  and  Conferences  showed  the  extent  of  the  work  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  how  thoroughly  foreign  fields 
were  being  cultivated.  The  address  noted  the  growth  of  Church 
literature,  especially  of  the  large  family  of  Advocates,  the  Meth- 
odist Review,  Sunday  School  Journal,  with  its  circulation  of  189,- 
420  copies  in  1891,  the  Berean  Lesson  Leaves,  with  a  circulation 
of  2,963,020  copies  in  the  year  1891,  and  the  numerous  independ- 
ent journals  more  or  less  Methodistic.  Ko  schisms  or  outbreaks 
had  occurred  either  with  respect  to  doctrine,  economy,  or  ad- 
ministration. Regarding  the  spiritual  state  of  the  Church  the 
address  said :  "  If  there  is  less  emotional  experience,  there  is 
reason  to  believe  there  is  an  increase  of  religious  stability.  .  .  . 
Heart  power  is  still  the  great  want."  The  humanitarian 
work  of  the  Church  in  the  erection  of  hospitals,  old  people's 
homes,  and  orphanages  was  commended.  "  The  revivals  are  at- 
tended with  less  excitement,"  said  the  bishops,  "  but  with  more 
stable  results,  as  a  rule,  when  revivals  occur  under  the  direct 
labors  of  the  pastors  themselves."  The  net  increase  in  the  mem- 
bership of  the  Church  during  the  four  years  was  442,000,  mak- 
ing an  aggregate  of  2,292,614  souls.  The  benevolences  of  the 
Church  had  increased  in  the  quadrennium  from  $6,162,339  to 
over  $8,000,000.  The  work  of  education  was  carefully  re- 
viewed, and  strong  words  were  spoken  regarding  advanced 
ministerial  study.  The  need  for  the  best  of  theological  teachers 
and  teaching,  and  of  the  best  men  as  students,  and  the  best  cult- 
ure possible  in  the  ministry,  was  emphasized.  The  valuable 
services  of  local  preachers,  the  need  for  self-discipline  of  those 
who  are  set  to  be  pastors  to  the  Christian  flock,  women's  work 
as  deaconesses,  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  and  the 
"Woman's  Home  Missionary  Society,  were  fully  presented,  and 
their  importance  enforced.    The  Epworth  League,  "  as  a  very 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  359 


notable  and  providential  outgrowth,"  was  commended  in  strong 
terms,  with  advice  that  "  this  new  legion  "  be  put  in  its  proper 
place  and  given  "opportunity  for  the  best  use  of  its  powers." 
The  American  University  and  Woman's  College  of  Baltimore 
were  commended.  Carefully  worded  and  strongly  expressed 
views  of  the  questions  of  "foreign  populations"  and  the 
"Chinese  immigration"  were  given  in  the  address,  the  spirit 
of  which  could  not  be  misunderstood.  Social  and  economic 
questions  were  treated  from  the  stand-point  of  the  new  com- 
mandment, "  Love  one  another."  The  unchanged  position  as  a 
foe  to  the  "  drink  habit  and  the  saloon  "  was  stated  ;  also  that 
Christian  fraternity  remains  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  , 
as  always,  "one  of  the  broadest  catholicity  and  most  genuine 
fraternity."  When  the  address  touched  upon  the  "race  prob- 
lem" it  was  to  show  how  much  "twenty-five  years  of  labor  and 
sacrifice  among  them  (the  Negroes  of  the  South)  had  increased 
our  interest  in  their  welfare."  On  the  matter  of  popular  amuse- 
ments the  bishops  gave  reasons  why  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  was  so  constantly  opposed  to  those  amusements  and 
recreations  which  cannot  be  taken  without  offense  to  conscience 
and  "  deadening  of  spiritual  sensibilities."  The  address,  taken 
as  a  whole,  may  be  classed  with  former  addresses  as  a  church- 
state  paper  of  great  breadth  of  thought,  superior  purpose,  and 
elegant  diction. 

The  report  of  the  Book  Committee,  charged  with  the  care 
and  direction  of  the  Eastern  and  Western  Book  Book  con- 
Concerns,  was  a  showing  of  great  work  during  the  cerns* 
quadrennium.  The  net  capital  of  the  two  Concerns  was 
$3,130,956.19.  The  sales  at  the  two  Concerns  were  $7,328,898.90.  , 
This  amount  of  business  is  almost  beyond  our  ability  to  com- 
prehend.   It  rivals  the  great  book-houses  of  the  world. 

Bishop  Thoburn,  of  India,  presented  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence his  report  of  work  in  India.    It  was  a  clear  his- 

.     ,  -  *  B  Bishop  Tho- 

torical  account  of  one  of  the  great  religious  move-  burn's  work 
ments  of  the  age,  which  is  gathering  strength  to   in  India" 
move  forward  at  a  greatly  accelerated  rate.    lie  referred  to  the 
formation  of  the  central  organization  called  a  Delegated  Con- 


360 


MANUAL  OF 


ference,  and  the  imperative  need  for  such  an  organization  to  do 
much  of  the  work  that  would  be  done  by  the  General  Confer- 
ence if  India  was  nearer  to  the  United  States ;  to  the  North 
India,  the  South  India,  and  Bengal  Conferences  attempting  to 
cover  so  vast  a  territory,  with  so  many  millions  of  people  ;  to 
the  Sunday-school,  with  over  55,000  scholars;  to  the-  work  of 
education,  with  1,039  schools  and  29,083  pupils,  of  whom  11,656 
are  Christians;  to  the  training  of  a  native  ministry ;  to  the  fact 
that  "nearly  every  Indian  member"  of  the  Annual  Confer- 
ences "  has  passed  examination  upon  a  course  of  study  extend- 
ing over  twelve  consecutive  years,"  and  to  many  other  matters 
interesting  and  profitable  to  know. 

Bishop  Taylor,  the  hardy  man  of  toil,  gave  a  full  and  inter- 
M  t      m     esting;  account  of  his  bishopric  in  the  Dark  Continent. 

Bishop    Tay-  °  ... 

lor's  report  of  He  had  so  fully  studied  Africa  and  its  resources  and 
the  people  as  to  give  an  intelligent  account  of  them. 
He  said:  "The  native  people  of  Africa  are,  in  available 
resources,  the  richest  people  in  the  world.  Their  debasing 
heathenism  keeps  them  down  on  the  dead  level  of  hand- 
to-mouth  subsistence."  He  started  his  mission  work  on  the 
principle  of  teaching  the  natives  to  "  develop  and  utilize  the 
indigenous  resources  of  their  own  country."  Hence  he 
teaches  farming,  trades,  and  various  forms  of  manual  labor, 
together  with  proper  religious  truth.  The  work  he  has  laid 
out,  though  in  its  infancy,  has  developed  in  every  line  satis- 
factorily. 

The  bishops  in  their  address  presented  the  results  of  the  votes 
vote  on  the  on  the  three  constitutional  questions  sent  out  by  the 
constitutional   Generai  Conference  of  1888.    First,  "  Shall  women 

questions    of  ' 

1888.  be  eligible  as  lay  delegates  in  the  Electoral  and  Lay 

Conferences  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church?"  received 
from  the  laity  235,668  votes  for  and  163,813  against.  On  the 
same  question  the  vote  of  the  ministry  stood  5,609  for  and 
5,141  against.  Second,  on  the  proposition  to  change  the 
second  restrictive  rule  by  inserting  the  words,  "and  the 
said  delegates  may  be  men  or  women,"  the  vote  of  the  min- 
istry stood  5,777  for  and  1,765  against.    Third,  to  equalize 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  361 


the  number  of  ministerial  and  lay  delegates  in  the  General 
Conference,  the  vote  of  the  ministry  stood  2,89G  for  and  5,491 


against. 


The  Philadelphia  Conference  submitted  a  proposition  to  the 
Conferences  that  the  ministerial  and  lay  delegates  in  the  Gen- 
eral Conference  shall  be  equal ;  they  shall  deliberate  and  vote 
as  one  body  and  never  separately  ;  the  basis  of  minis-  Philadelphia 
terial  representation  shall  be  not  more  than  one  for  proposition, 
every  fourteen  members  of  an  Annual  Conference,  nor  less  than 
one  for  every  forty-five  members,  and  for  a  fraction  of  two 
thirds  the  number  fixed  for  the  ratio  of  representation  there 
may  be  an  additional  delegate.  The  vote  of  the  ministry  stood 
2,310  for  and  4,849  against. 

There  were  no  bishops  elected.  Sandford  Hunt  and  Homer 
Eaton  were  elected  agents  of  the  Book  Concern  at 
JSTew  York,  and  Earl  Cranston  and  Lewis  Curts 
agents  at  Cincinnati ;  J".  "W".  Mendenhall,  editor  of  the  Methodist 
Review;  J.  M.  Buckley,  editor  of  The  Christian  Advocate  • 
D.  H.  Moore,  editor  of  Western  Christian  Advocate ;  Arthur 
Edwards,  editor  of  North-western  Christian  Advocate  •  C.  "W. 
Smith,  editor  of  Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate;  Jesse  B. 
Young,  editor  of  Central  Christian  Advocate ;  J.  E.  C.  Saw- 
yer, editor  of  Northern  Christian  Advocate  ;  B.  E.  Crary,  edi- 
tor of  California  Christian  Advocate ;  E.  W.  S.  Hammond, 
editor  of  South-western  Christian  Advocate /  A.  J.  !Nast,  edi- 
tor of  Der  Christliche  Apologete  ;  II.  Liebhart,  editor  of  Ilaus 
und  Herd ;  C.  C.  McCabe,  J.  0.  Peck,  and  A.  B.  Leonard, 
corresponding  secretaries  of  the  Missionary  Society ;  "W.  A. 
Spencer  and  A.  J.  Kynett,  corresponding  secretaries  of  the 
Church  Extension  Society ;  C.  H.  Payne,  corresponding  secre- 
tary of  the  Board  of  Education  ;  J.  C.  Hartzell  and  J.  "W.  Ham- 
ilton, corresponding  secretaries  of  Freedmen's  Aid  and  South- 
ern Education  Society ;  J.  L.  Ilurlbut,  corresponding  secretary 
of  the  Sunday-School  Union  and  Tract  Society ;  J.  E.  Berry, 
editor  of  Epworth  Herald. 

Pev.  "William  E.  Moulton,  D.D.,  from  the  British  Wesleyan 
Conference,  England  ;  Pev.  Dr.  A.  Carman,  from  the  Meth- 


362  MANUAL  OF 

odist  Church,  of  Canada ;  Rev.  Dr.  E.  Cottrell,  from  the  Col- 
Fratemai  ored  Methodist  Church  of  America ;  Rev.  Dr.  J.  T. 
delegates.  Jennifer,  from  the  African  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church;  Dr.  W.  M.  Beardshear,  from  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ;  Charles  J.  Baker,  from  the  Independent  Methodist 
Churches  of  Baltimore;  Bev.  Dr.  William  X.  Golas,  from  the 
African  Methodist  Episcopal  Zion  Church;  Bev.  Dr.  John  J. 
Tigert,  from  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  were  re- 
ceived with  every  mark  of  cordial  fraternity.  The  addresses 
they  made  were  excellent  reviews  of  the  condition  of  their  sev- 
eral Churches,  and  are  valuable  as  showing  how  Methodism  is 
going  out  to  evangelize  the  world.  An  address  was  received 
from  the  Irish  Methodist  Church. 

There  was  a  mass-meeting  held  in  Exposition  TIall 
American  during  the  session  of  the  General  Conference,  at 
university.  which  general  and  Methodist  education  were  pre- 
sented by  speakers  who  had  thoroughly  studied  the  subject 
in  all  its  bearings.  The  addresses  were  learned  and  eloquent. 
The  plan  of  the  American  University  as  a  post-graduate  school 
under  the  control  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  fully 
shown.  Its  location  at  Washington,  D.  C,  will  be  most  advan- 
tageous in  view  of  the  close  proximity  of  the  vast  and  costly 
scientific  collections  of  the  government. 

A  "  Deaconess  Mass-meeting "  was  also  held  on  May  10, 
Deaconesses  presided  over  by  Bishop  Warren,  at  which  the  or- 
consecrated.  ganization,  growth,  and  design  of  the  deaconess 
movement  was  freely  explained.  The  story  of  the  work  of  the 
deaconesses  was  graphically  told.  During  the  exercises  three 
deaconesses  of  the  Omaha  House  were  consecrated  to  the 
work,  and  license  was  conferred  upon  them  by  Bishop  Xew- 
man.  This  work,  only  four  years  old  in  Methodism,  has  yet  to 
be  tested.  So  far  it  is  productive  of  good,  and  has  in  it  im- 
mense capabilities. 

The  Epworth  League,  which  had  been  organized  within  the 
Epworth  preceding  quadrennium,  was  after  careful  consider- 
League.  ation  adopted  by  the  General  Conference  as  a  special 
organization  for  the  young  people  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 


METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY.  3G3 


Church.  A  constitution  was  adopted,  making  tho  organization 
a  part  of  the  Church.  The  president  of  an  Epworth  League 
chapter  must  be  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
elected  by  the  chapter  and  approved  by  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence. He  is  made  a  member  of  that  body.  The  chapters  are 
required  to  make  reports  of  their  work  to  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference. This  organization  is  destined  to  become  a  great  and 
useful  agent  in  the  work  of  the  Church„  Much  of  the  talent 
now  unimproved  will  be  brought  into  active  exercise. 

Dr.  William  Nast  had  for  fifty-three  consecutive  years  served 
the  Church  as  editor  of  Der  ChristlicJie  Avoloqete  and  TT 

1       J  Honor  to 

German  books.    He  now  declined  re-election  in  con-  whom  honor 
sequence  of  his  advanced  age.    His  son,  Professor  Al- 
bert J.  Nast,  was  chosen  to  succeed  his  father.  The  General  Con- 
ference passed  complimentary  resolutions  concernino; 

r  1  J  °  Dr.  Nast. 

Dr.  Nast,  and  elected  him  honorary  editor  of  Der 
ChristlicJie  Apologete  and  German  books. 

Dr.  John  M.  Reid,  in  recognition  of  his  long  and  faithful 
services  as  corresponding  secretary  of  the  Mission-    Dr  Jobn  M 
a:y  Society,  was  made  honorary  secretary  of  the  Reid- 
same. 

Dr.  Richard  S.  Rust,  who  was  the  first  corresponding  secre- 
tary of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  and  continued 
in  the  service  actively  until  1888,  was  made  honor-  Dr- R- s- Rust- 
ary  secretary  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  and  Southern  Education 
Society.  The  General  Conference  honored  itself  in  honoring 
these  faithful  servants. 

The  usual  hurry  to  close  the  Conference  sessions  was  mani- 
fested during  the  day  of  May  26,  1892.  Many  re- 
ports of  more  or  less  importance  from  the  standing  Ad->ournment- 
committees  had  been  presented  and  published  in  the  Daily 
Advocate,  and  awaited  action.  The  usual  "sifting  committee" 
had  been  at  work  bringing  forward  the  reports  which  seemed 
to  them  the  most  important,  and  some  had  been  accepted  and 
others  rejected.  A  number  more  that  had  cost  much  thought 
and  discussion  were  awaiting  action  when  the  hour  for  ad- 
journment came.     The  roll  was  called  and  record  made  of 


304:         METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  HISTORY. 


those  who  were  present.  The  Journal  was  read  and  approved. 
Two  verses  were  sung  of  the  hymn : 

"  And  let  our  bodies  part. 

To  different  ciimes  repair; 
Inseparably  joined  in  heart 

The  friends  of  Jesus  are." 

Bishop  Bowman  led  in  a  touching,  fervent,  and  simple  prayer. 
The  lono;  meter  doxoloew  was  suns:,  and  the  benediction  was 
pronounced  by  Bishop  FitzGerald.  With  this  act  the  General 
Conference  of  1892  was  adjourned  sine  die.  Its  history  was 
recorded,  and  soon  the  millions  of  eyes  that  had  looked  with 
anxiety  and  interest  toward  the  General  Conference  at  Omaha 
were  permitted  to  look  out  to  the  coming  quadrennium  of  the 
Church  and  its  work  and  success.  In  history  this  General 
Conference  will  be  named  the  most  conservative  of  all,  and  the 
shortest  in  session  of  any  for  fifty  years.  May  God's  blessing 
continue  to  attend  this  beloved  Methodist  Zion  ! 


INDEX. 


Abbott,  Benjamin,  16,  56. 

Abercrombie,  Rev.  R.,  858. 

Abolition  conventions,  152,  153,  154. 

Abolitionism  and  Bishop  Heckling,  136. 

Abolitionists'  demands,  138. 

Abstract  of  M  Plan  of  Separation,"  176. 

Action  of  local  churches  in  1844,  182;  of 

Northern  Conferences,  182;  of  Southern 

Conferences,  183. 
Activity  of  the  bishops  and  ministry,  102. 
Acts  of  the  General  Conference  of  1792,  54. 
Address  from  British  Conference  in  1833  gave 

ofTense,  130. 
Address  from  the  British  Conference,  222. 
Address  of  bishops  to  General  Conferences, 

106,  120, 161, 205, 214,  221, 235, 253,  275,  319, 

334,  358. 

Address  of  British  Conference  to  General 
Conference  of  1800,  64. 

Address  of  Coke  and  Asbury  to  General  Wash- 
ington, 40. 

Address  of  Dr.  Dixon  to  General  Conference 

of  1848,  192. 
Address  of  Southern  delegates  in  1844, 182. 
Address  of  the  French  Conference  in  1856, 

214. 

Address  to  President  Lincoln,  238. 

Africa  and  Melville  B.  Cox,  118. 

Akers,  Rev.  Peter,  122, 175. 

Albert,  Rev.  A.  E.  P.,  341. 

Albion  College,  232. 

Alleghany  College,  129. 

Allowance  for  preachers'  children,  66. 

Almanac,  Methodist,  proposed,  121. 

Alverson,  Rev.  J.  B.,  194. 

American  Colonization  Society,  144. 

American  University,  362. 

Ames,  Rev.  Edward  R.,  147,  208,  345. 

Andrew  adheres  to  the  Church,  South,  186. 

Andrew  and  Soule  invited  to  be  bishops  in  the 

Church,  South,  185. 
Andrew,  Rev.  James  O.,  122, 166, 170, 183. 
Andrew's  name  to  stand  officially  with  church 

publication,  177. 
Andrews,  Rev.  E.  G.,  272,  326,  347. 
Andrus,  Rev.  Reuben,  1&5. 
Anglo-Chinese  College  movement,  317. 
Apologist,  The  Christian,  136. 
Appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 

States,  203. 


Appeals  to  General  Conference  of  1836  against 
locating  preachers,  134. 

Arminianism  in  the  Articles  of  Religion,  32. 

Arrangements  for  a  third  Ecumenical  Confer- 
ence, 350. 

Arthur,  Rev.  William,  213,  353. 

Articles  of  Religion,  25,  32,  70. 

Articles  of  Religion  of  the  Free  Methodist 
Church,  229. 

Asbury  sent  to  America,  13 :  received  at  New 
York,  13 ;  and  Otterbein,  17 ;  appointed  to 
New  York,  17;  at  Judge  White's,  20;  at 
Perry  Hall, 20;  and  Conference  at  Judge 
White's,  22 ;  and  Gough  at  Warm  Springs, 
20;  and  American  Independence,  20;  elect- 
ed superintendent^ ;  preventingaschism, 
22;  meets  Coke  at  Barrett's  Chapel,  22; 
elected  a  superintendent  or  bishop,  29; 
ordained,  29 ;  first  sermon  after  consecra- 
tion, 35;  laid  the  cornerstone  of  Colcesbury 
College,  36;  and  Coke  again  meet,  37; 
holds  Conference  at  Half  Acres,  Tenn.,  37 ; 
holds  Conference  at  Uniontown,  Pa.,  38 ; 
and  Coke  address  Washington,  41;  and 
the  Council,  42 ;  called  a  General  Confer- 
ence, 44;  formed  first  Sunday  school  in 
America,  45;  in  New  England,  49;  and 
the  O'Kelly  schism,  51;  counteracts  the 
O'Kelly  movement,  55 ;  of  a  morbid  tem- 
perament, 58;  in  poor  health,  62 ;  desired 
help  in  the  episcopacy,  63;  allowed  an  at- 
tendant, 74  ;  re-enforced  by  the  election  of 
McKendree,  81 ;  visited  Canada,  82 ;  open- 
ing General  Conference  of  1812,  83 ;  died 
at  Spottsylvania,  91. 

Ashton,  13. 

Assistant  bishops  proposed,  63. 

"Associated    Methodist   Reformers,"  111; 

"  Methodist  Churches,"  112. 
"Assurance"  and  "sanctiflcation,"  why  not 

in  Articles  of  Religion  ?  32. 
Augusta  College,  Ky.,  104. 
Badger,  Rev.  B.,  110. 
Baird,  Rev.  Isaac  N.,  216. 
Baker,  Rev.  Osmon  C,  188,  208,  218,  266. 
Baldwin  University,  187. 
Bangs  and  Mason,  their  vigorous  measures  in 

the  Book  Concern,  103. 
Bangs,  Rev.  Nathan,73,113,116,118,124,147,175. 
Bangs,  Rev.  Heman,  267. 


366 


INDEX. 


Bannister,  Rev.  E.,  199,  204. 

Bannister,  Rev.  Henry,  211. 

Baptized  children,  258. 

Barrett  and  Bassett,  21. 

Barrow,  Rev.  D.  L.,  245. 

Barth,  Rev.  John  H.,  243. 

Bascom,  Rev.  Henry  B  ,  104,  118,  148,  175, 183, 
184,  186,  2C0. 

Bashford,  Rev.  J.  W.,  151. 

Bates,  Leavitt,  death  of,  334. 

Bayliss,  Rev.  Jeremiah  H.,  324,  341,  343. 

Beaucharap,  Rev.  William,  107. 

Beaver  College,  211. 

Benson,  Rev.  H.  C,  244,  260. 

Berry,  Rev.  J.  F.,  345. 

Berry,  Rev.  Lucian  W.,  204. 

Bewley,  Rev.  Anthony,  230. 

Bible  of  Mr.  Wesley,  319. 

Biblical  Institute,  Foochow,  262. 

Bingham,  Rev.  I.  S.,  223. 

Bishop  for  Africa,  133,  215. 

Bishop,  the,  a  servant  of  the  General  Confer- 
ence, 84. 

Bishops  Iledding  and  George  attempt  to  con- 
ciliate the  Canada  Conference,  113. 

Black,  Rev.  William,  39. 

Board  of  Control  of  Epworth  League,  344. 

Board  of  Education,  260,  350. 

Boardman,  Rev.,  12. 

Bohler,  Rev.  Peter,  3. 

Bond,  Rev.  Thomas  E.,  110, 147,  179,  208. 

Book  Committee,  108, 122,  260. 

Book  Committee,  report  of,  1884,  321. 

Book  Concern,  44,  61,  67,  101,  122,  225,  236. 

Book  Concern  at  Cincinnati  ordered,  101. 

Book  Concern  at  New  York  burned,  128. 

Book  Concern  at  New  York  dedicated,  346. 

Book  Concern  moved  to  New  York,  71. 

Book  Concerns  report  to  General  Conference 
of  1892,  359. 

Book  steward,  45,  80. 

Bordentown  Female  College,  211. 

Boston  Theological  Seminary,  255. 

Bowman,  Rev.  Thomas,  135,  272. 

Braden,  Rev.  John,  252. 

Brett,  Rev.  Pliny,  a  disturber,  87. 

Briggs,  Rev.  M.  C,  199,  204. 

Brooks,  Rev.  Joseph,  216. 

Brown,  Rev.  S.  D.,  244. 

Brownlow,  Governor,  246. 

Buckley,  Rev.  J.  M.,  324,  341,  347. 

Burke,  Rev.  William,  58. 

Burns,  Rev.  Francis,  218. 

Burnett,  Bishop,  statement  of,  8. 

Butler,  Bi.shop,  statement  of  England's  sinful 
condition,  8. 

Butler,  Rev.  William,  219,  311,  317.  . 

California  Christian  Advocate,  199. 

Calm  address  of  Mr.  Wesley,  20. 

Calvinistic  Controversy,  119. 

Canada  Conference,  113,  116. 


Canada  question,  98. 

Capers,  Rev.  William,  73,  116,  147,  164,  165, 
186,  200. 

Capital  of  Book  Concern  at  New  York,  107. 

Card  playing,  11. 

Carlisle,  Dr.  James  H.,  353. 

Carlton,  Rev.  Thomas,  208,  216,  223,  244,  259. 

Carroll,  Rev.  John,  237. 

Carter,  Rev.  T.  C,  341. 

Cartwright,  Rev.  Peter,  74,  221. 

Case,  Rev.  William,  113,  13ft 

Catechism,  209. 

Causes  for  the  success  of  Methodism,  32. 
Cazenovia  Seminary,  117. 
Centenary  of  American  Methodism,  226. 
Centenary  year,  249. 

Centennial  Conference  of  American  Method- 
ism, 325. 

Centennial  of  Kentucky  Methodism,  346. 
Centennial  of  Methodism  in  1839,  140. 
Central  Tennessee  College,  251. 
Certificate  of  membership,  323. 
Chaddock  College,  211. 

Chambers,  Rev.  Dr.,  of  the  Pan-Presbyterian 

Council,  354. 
Chartered  fund,  61,  71, 121,  217. 
Check  to  legislation,  79. 
Children's  classes,  108. 
China  Mission  founded  at  Foochow,  187. 
Choate,  Rufus,  202. 
Christian  Advocate,  110. 
"  Christian  Perfection,"  32. 
Christmas  Conference  at  Lovely  Lane,  26:  work 

of,  30 ;  the  first  General  Conference,  33. 
Church  Extension  Society,  237,  348. 
Circuits,  6. 

Claims  of  the  Church  in  Canada,  133. 

Clark,  Rev.  C.  J.,  death  of,  334. 

Clark,  Rev.  Davis  W.,  216,  223,  244,  246,  265. 

Clark,  Rev.  Laban,  85,  95. 123. 

Clarke,  Rev.  Homer  J.,  208. 

Classification  of  membership  as  to  color  omit- 
ted, 210. 

Clouds  of  civil  war,  229. 

Club,  Holy,  2. 

Coke  and  Asbury  meet,  22. 

Coke  visits  America,  22;  selected  to  organize 
the  Church,  24;  Whatcoat  and  Vasey,  25; 
at  Barrett's  Chapel,  22,  25  ;  and  Asbury  at 
Perry  Hall,  26 ;  sermon  at  Asbury 's  ordi- 
nation, 29;  certifies  to  Asbury's  ordina- 
tion, 34;  at  Mt.  Vernon  with  Washington, 
36;  and  Asbury  at  Charlestown,  S.  C  ,  37 ; 
embarked  for  Europe,  37;  sermon  at 
close  of  General  Conference  of  1788,  54 ; 
pledge,  62;  and  Asbury  together  journey 
to  the  South,  63 ;  again  sailed  for  Europe, 
63;  preside  at  the  openimr  session  of  1804, 
69;  marriage,  "6 ;  letter  to  Bi.shop  White, 
76;  letter  to  the  General  Conference,  70  ; 
letter  discussed,  77 ;  death  on  the  sea,  89. 


INDEX. 


3G7 


Cokesbury  College,  31,  36,  37. 

Coleman,  Rev.  Mr.,  169. 

Coles,  Rev.  George,  147,  179. 

Collins,  Rev.  J.  D.,  187. 

Collins,  Rev.  John,  74. 

Collins,  Rev.  John  A.,  134,  142,  163. 

"  Come-outers,"  154. 

Commission  on  organic  church  unity,  339. 

Commissioners  of  the  Church,  South,  194. 

Commissioners  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  217. 

Committee  of  Conference  on  lay  representa- 
tion, 258. 

Committee  of  nine  in  1844, 175. 

Committees  for  examination,  123. 

Concord  Biblical  Institute,  266. 

Condition  of  the  freedmen,  248. 

Conference,  first,  held  in  England,  6. 

Conference,  first,  in  America,  15. 

Conference,  General,  of  1796,  60;  called  to 
meet  in  May,  1800,  64 ;  satisfied  with  ad- 
ministration of  Asbury,  65;  of  1804,  69; 
of  1808,  75 ;  of  1816,  91 ;  of  1820,  98 ;  of 
1824,  106 ;  of  1828,  115 ;  of  1832,  120 ;  of 
1836,  130;  of  1840,  142;  of  1844,  160;  of 
1848,  190 ;  of  1852,  205 ;  of  1856,  213 ;  of 
1860,  221 ;  of  1864,  235 ;  of  1868,  2:>3 ;  of 
1872,  269 ;  of  1876,  287 ;  of  1880,  304 ;  of 
1884,  319 ;  of  1888,  333  ;  of  1892,  357. 

Conference,  second,  in  America,  17;  at  Judge 
White's,  22 ;  work  of  Christmas,  30 ;  num- 
ber of  Annual  in  1796,  61 ;  records,  67. 

Conservatism,  158. 

Coustitution  of  the  Church,  336. 

Constitutional  Commission  report,  357. 

Constitutional  questions,  vote,  360. 

Controversy,  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church, 
118. 

Controversy  and  Divisions,  period  of,  83. 
Convention  at  Louisville  in  1845,  183. 
Convention  of  Reformers  at  Baltimore  in  1828, 
111. 

Cook,  Rev.  Valentine,  educated  at  Cokes- 
bury,  57. 
Cooper,  Ezekiel,  57,  65,  67,  71. 
Cornell,  J.  B.,  and  a  missionary  meeting,  317. 
Corwin,  R.  M.,  200. 
Coughlan,  Rev.  L.,  39. 

Council,  the  origin  of,  42;  members,  43;  un- 
popular, 43;  a  remedy  proposed  for  its 
unpopularity,  44. 

Course  of  study  for  Methodist  schools,  146. 

Course  of  study  for  preachers,  92, 178. 

Cox,  Rev.  Melville  B.,  and  Africa,  118,  150. 

Crandall,  Rev.  Phineas,  166. 

Cranston,  Rev.  Earl,  324,  341,  347,  301. 

Crary,  Rev.  B.  F.,  244,  260,  324,  341,  361. 

Crawford,  Rev.  M.  D'C,  347. 

Creamer,  David,  194. 

Crouse  Memorial  College,  344. 

Crowder,  Rev.  Thomas,  169,  175. 


Crum,  Rev.  George  C,  233. 
Crume,  Rev.  Moses,  74. 
Cummiritfs,  Rev.  Joseph,  211,  345. 
Curry,  Rev.  Daniel,  244,  259,  324,  329. 
Curtis,  Rev.  -William  M.,  122. 
Curts,  Rev.  Lewis,  361. 
Dailey,  Rev.  David,  194. 
Dangers  of  travel  in  1832,  124. 
Dashiell,  Rev.  R.  L.,  278,  294,  302. 
Davis,  Rev.  Charles  A.,  147. 
Deaconesses,  339. 

Deaconesses  consecrated  at  Omaha,  362. 
Dedicated,  First  Church,  12. 
Dedication  of  Book  Concern  at  New  York, 
346. 

Deed  of  declaration,  8. 
Deed  of  trust,  61. 

Delegated  General  Conference,  79,  83. 
Delegates  from  Mission  Conferences,  253. 
Delegates,  second  Ecumenical  Conference,  352. 
Delight  of  people  with  new  organization,  33. 
Dempster,  Rev.  John,  129,  140,  188,  211,  236, 
255. 

Denver  University,  344. 
De  Pauw,  Hon.  W.  C,  331. 
De  Pauw  University,  135,  331. 
Depositories  for  the  Book  Concern,  146. 
Dickins,  Rev.  John,  25,  30,  43,  45,  180. 
Dickinson  College,  129. 
Dickins's  motion,  28. 

Differs  from  the  committee  in  a  trial,  when  a 

preacher,  60. 
Dillon,  Rev.  Isaac,  260. 
Diocesan  bishoprics  urged,  but  not  accepted, 

100. 

Discussion  of  the  presiding  elder  question,  103. 
Discussion  on  Cooper  and  Emory's  resolution, 
99. 

Discussions  on  the  sacraments,  15. 
Disosway,  Gabriel  P.,  interested  in  missions, 
95. 

District  Conferences,  274. 
Divorce,  323. 

Dixon,  Rev.  Dr.,  delegate  from  British  Meth- 
odism, 192. 

Doctor's  degree,  attempt  to  regulate,  123. 

Doctrinal  Methodism,  31. 

Dorsey,  Rev.  D.  B.,  expelled,  111. 

Dougharty,  Rev.  Mr.,  ill-treatment  at  Charles- 
ton, 68. 

Douglass,  Rev.  Dr.  George,  353. 

Dow,  Rev.  Lorenzo,  72. 

Drew,  Daniel,  250. 

Drew  Theological  Seminary,  250. 

Durbin,  Rev.  John  Price,  104,  129,  170,  175, 

178,  197,  208,  216,  221,  244,  2C0,  274. 
Duty  of  ministers  to  pray  for  the  country,  88. 
Early,  Rev.  John,  73,  194. 
Eaton,  Rev.  Homer,  343,  301. 
Ecumenical  Conference,  312,  352. 
Eddy,  Rev.  A.,  chaplain  in  army,  231. 


368 


INDEX. 


Eddy,  Rev.  Thomas  Iff.,  219,  223,  284. 

Education,  62,  94,  117,  145,  187,  195,  203,  210, 
227,  232,  242,  261. 

Education,  list  of  schools,  145. 

Educational  work  of  the  Freedmen's  Aid  So- 
ciety, 252. 

Edwards,  Rev.  Arthur,  324,  341,  361. 

Elections,  98,  107,  122,  134,  196,  208,  216,  244, 
259,  272,  361. 

Eligibility  of  women  to  membership  in  Gen- 
eral Conference,  .336. 

Eligibility  to  membership,  doubt  as  to,  334. 

Elliott,  Rev.  Charles,  118,  129,  134,  147,  158, 
178,  179,  204,  208,  223,  2G7. 

Emancipation,  231. 

Embury,  Philip,  11,  12. 

Emory,  Rev.  John,  commenced  to  preach,  73 ; 
the  first  fraternal  delegate  to  England,  99  ; 
elected  a  book  agent,  107 ;  elected  a  bish- 
op, 122;  editor  Quarterly  Review,  124; 
killed,  127; 

Episcopacy,  proposal  for  eligibility,  65. 

Episcopacy,  questions  concerning,  337. 

Epworth  League  organized,  344;  Herald, 
345  ;  League  adopted  by  General  Confer- 
ence, 362. 

Excitement  in  the  South,  140. 

Exeter  Hall,  London,  313. 

Expenses  of  delegates,  92. 

Expurgated  edition  of  the  Discipline,  80. 

Extension  of  ministerial  term,  237. 

Fancher,  Hon.  Enoch  L.,  202. 

Fast,  general,  observed  by  Methodists,  59. 

Feeling  of  the  Church,  both  North  and  South, 
iu  1844,  181. 

Fielding,  Rev.  J.  H.,  118. 

Filmore,  Rev.  Glezen,  175. 

Finley,  Rev.  J.  B.,  169, 170,  200. 

Fisk,  General  Clinton  B.,  346,  347. 

Fisk,  Rev.  Wilbur,  94,  110,  118,  133,  140. 

FitzGerald,  Rev.  J.  N.,  341. 

Flathead  Indians,  128. 

Floy,  Rev.  James,  139, 194,  216. 

Foochow  Mission,  187. 

Foreign  delegates,  130. 

Fort  Edward  Collegiate  Institute,  211. 

Foss,  Rev.  Cyrus  D.,  306,  347. 

Foster,  Dr.  Henry,  315. 

Foster,  Rev.  R.  S.,  210,  272,  327. 

Foundry  Church,  5. 

Fowler,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  211,  321. 

Fraternal  delegates,  257,  276,  361. 

Frazer,  Rev.  John,  190. 

Freedmen's  Aid  Society,  247, 273,  349. 

Free  Methodist  Church,  228. 

Fry,  Rev.  B.  St.  James,  324,  341,  356. 

Gammon,  Rev.  E.  H-,  318 ;  Theological  Insti- 
tute, 318. 

Gardiner,  Rev.  James,  237. 

Garrett,  Mrs.  Eliza,  211. 

Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  21L 


Garrettson,  Rev.  Freeborn,  21,  26,  39,  52,  53, 
114 ;  calling  the  preachers  to  the  Christ- 
mas Conference,  26 ;  and  Cromwell  in 
Nova  Scotia,  39. 

Gatch,  Rev.  Philip,  16. 

General  Conference,  a  call  for  one  to  be  held, 
44 ;  the  second,  50. 

Genesee  Conference,  82. 

George,  Rev.  Enoch,  57,  92, 103,  117. 

German  and  Swedish  work,  187. 

German  hymn  book,  243;  Conferences,  243. 

German  Mission  Conference,  215;  Sunday 
school  paper,  216 ;  Mission  Biblical  Insti- 
tute, 225;  department  Baldwin  Univer- 
sity, 232;  orphan  asylums,  232 ;  "Wallace 
College,  232. 

Goodsell,  Rev.  D.  A.,  341. 

Gough,  conversion  of,  18. 

Government  of  the  United  States,  recognition 
of,  70. 

Granbery,  Bishop  J.  C,  327. 
Green,  George,  353. 
Green,  Rev.  A.  L.  P.,  186, 194,  200. 
Gibson's  statement  as  to  England's  condi- 
tion, 8. 

Griffith  and  Davis  —  resolution  regarding 

Bishop  Andrew,  168. 
Haddock,  Rev.  George  C,  murder  of,  329. 
Hall,  Rev.  John,  354. 

Hamline,  Rev.  Leonidas  L.,  144,  147, 170, 175, 
177,  179,  185,  190,  204,  206,  207,  254. 

Hamline  University,  204. 

Hammett's  secession,  55. 

Hannah,  Rev.  John,  106,  213. 

Harding,  Rev.  Francis  A.,  162, 164. 

Harlan,  Hon.  James,  204. 

Harris,  Rev.  William  L.,  213, 221,  244,  260,269, 
272,  330. 

Harrison,  President,  visit  to  Ecumenical  Con- 
ference, 354. 
Hartzell,  Rev.  J.  C,  341,  361. 
Haven,  Rev.  Erastus  O.,  210,  263,  306,  311. 
Haven,  Rev.  Gilbert,  272,  301. 
Heathen  Woman's  Friend,  350. 
Heck,  Barbara,  11,  40. 
Heck  Hall,  251. 

Hedding,  Rev.  Elijah,  107, 171,  190,  199. 
Heading's  reasons  for  his  administration,  137. 
Hedstrom,  Rev.  O.  G.,  187. 
Hemenway,  Rev.  F.  D.,  211. 
Heresy  of  Randall  denounced  in  1828,  115. 
Hibbard,  Rev.  F.  G.,  206,  216,  221. 
Hickock,  Rev.  Henry,  187. 
Hight,  Rev.  J.  J.,  331. 
Hill,  Rev.  James,  213. 
Hioman,  Rev.  Clark  T.,  210- 
Hirst,  Rev.  A.  C,  204. 
History  of  the  Great  Secession,  2T. 
Hitchcock,  Rev.  Luke,  223,  244,  259. 
Hitt,  Rev.  Daniel,  80,  8n. 
'  Holliday,  Rev.  Charles,  116,  122. 


INDEX. 


309 


Holmes,  Rev.  C.  A.,  204. 
Holston  Conference  organized,  246. 
Home  for  the  Aged,  Brooklyn,  348. 
Home  for  the  Aged  in  New  York,  198. 
Horton,  Rev.  Jotham,  153. 
Hosmer,  Rev.  William,  196,  208. 
Houghtaling,  Rev.  James  B.,  142,  100. 
Hoyt,  Rev.  F.  S.,  278,  294,  310. 
Hunt,  Rev.  Sandford,  300,  310,  324,  341,  347, 
361. 

Hunt  and  Eaton,  343. 
Hunter,  Rev.  William,  179,  196. 
Hurlbut,  Rev.  J.  L.,  341,  361. 
Hurst,  Rev.  John  F.,  250,  306. 
Hymn  Book  revised,  194,  295. 
Incorporation  of  the  Church,  261. 
India  Mission,  219. 
India  Mission  Conference,  256. 
Indiana  Asbury  University,  135. 
Influence  of  Simpson  and  Janes  in  England, 
233. 

Iowa  Wesleyan  University,  203. 

Irregular  itinerancy,  6. 

Itinerancy,  109. 

Itinerant,  The,  110. 

Ivey,  Rev.  Richard,  43. 

Jacoby,  Rev.  L.  S.,  215. 

Janes,  Rev.  E.  S.,  179,  190,  218,  249,  254. 

Jobson,  Rev.  F.  J.,  213. 

Jocelyn,  Rev.  George  B.,  204. 

John,  Rev.  J.  P.  D.,  135. 

John  Street  Church,  11. 

Jones,  Rev.  Richard,  214. 

Joyce,  Rev.  Isaac  W.,341. 

Judicial  Conference,  320. 

Keener,  Bishop,  353. 

Kentucky  Conference  organized,  247. 

Kidder,  Rev.  D.  P.,  179,  196,  208, 324,  351. 

Kilbourn,  Rev.  David,  73. 

King,  Rev.  James  M.,  311. 

King,  Rev.  John,  13. 

Kingsley,  Rev.  Calvin,  216,  223,  244,  254,  264. 

Kingswood  School,  7. 

Knight,  Rev.  O.  O.,  251. 

Kynett,  Rev.  A.  J.,  237,  260,  324,  341,  361. 

Labor  problem,  337. 

Ladie^  Repositori/,  143. 

Lambert,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  38. 

Lanahan,  Rev.  John,  259. 

Lane,  Rev.  George,  134,  147,  179,  196. 

Larger  Minutes  authority  in  American  Meth- 
odism, 31. 

Larrabee,  Rev.  William  C,  208. 

Latta,  Rev.  Samuel  A.,  186. 

Lay  delegation  in  General  Conference,  de- 
cline of,  144 ;  representation,  227,  233,  258, 
268,  269. 

Laymen's  address,  270. 

Lay  preaching,  5. 

Leard,  Rev.  Michael,  38. 

Leavitt,  Judge,  decision  of  in  Church  case,  201. 
25 


Lee,  Rev.  Jesse,  the  hern  of  New  England 
Methodism,  46 ;  in  Boston,  preaches  on 
the  Common,  47;  and  Bangs,  48;  re-en- 
forced, 48;  his  mother  dies,  48;  account 
of  General  Conference  of  1792, 51 ;  presid- 
ing in  Conferences  for  Asbury,  63 ;  history 
of  Methodism,  88. 

Lee,  Rev.  Leroy  M.,  147, 179. 

Lee,  Rev.  Luther,  138, 139, 140, 152, 153, 156, 157. 

Leonard,  Rev.  A.  B.,  341,  347,  361. 

Letter  of  J.  O.  Andrew  to  the  Committee  oa 
Episcopacy,  166. 

Lewis,  Rev.  Jefferson,  213. 

Liberia  Mission  Annual  Conference,  133, 150. 

Library  of  Ranke  at  Syracuse  University,  263. 

Liebhart,  Rev.  Henry,  324,  341,  361. 

Lincoln,  President,  238,  240. 

Lindsey,  Rev.  Marcus,  94. 

Local  preachers  ordained  deacons,  61;  dea- 
cons eligible  to  elders'  orders,  85. 

Longstreet's  declaration  as  to  agitation,  174. 

Lord,  Rev.  William,  130. 

Lore,  Rev.  D.  D.,  244,  260. 

Losee,  Rev.  William,  40. 

Lovely  Lane  Church,  26,  326. 

Louisville  Convention,  181, 183. 

Lozier,  Rev.  J.  H.,  231. 

Luckey,  Rev.  Samuel,  117, 134. 

Maclay,  Rev.  R.  S.,  187. 

Madison  College,  118. 

Mallalieu,  Rev.  W.  F.,  321. 

Manual,  The,  329. 

Marlay's  Life  of  Bishop  Morris,  135. 

Marriage,  62. 

Martin,  Mr.  J.  T.,  226. 

Martin,  Rev.  Alexander,  135. 

Martin,  Rev.  J.  S.,  213. 

Martin  Mission  Institute,  226. 

Mason,  Rev.  Thomas,  122,  134. 

Mass  meeting  at  the  dedication  of  Book  Con- 
cern, 347. 

Mather,  Rev.  Alexander,  6. 

Matlack,  Rev.  L.  C,  156,  257. 

Maxfield,  Rev.  Thomas,  5. 

McArthur,  Mayor  of  London,  314. 

McCabe,  Rev.  0.  C,  324,  341,  361. 

McCabe,  Rev.  Lorenzo  D.,  151. 

McCarter,  Rev.  Colonel  M.,  231. 

McClaskey,  Rev.  John,  57. 

McClintock,  Rev.  John,  196,  208,  217,  220,  250, 
267. 

McFarland,  Rev.  J.  T.,  204. 

McFerrin,  Rev.  J.  B.,  173, 177, 179,  246,  327. 

Mcllenry,  Rev.  Barnabas,  58. 

McKendree,  Rev.  William,  78,  81,  84,  85,  90, 

91,  93,  95,  99,  102,  106,  116,  126. 
Membership  of  General  Conference,  1800,  64. 
Memorial  window  to  Bishop  Simpson,  329. 
Mendenhall,  Rev.  J.  W.,  341,  361. 
Merkland,  Rev.  W.  H.,  354. 
Merrick,  Rev.  Frederick,  151,  194,  327. 


370 


INDEX. 


Merrill,  Rev.  Stephen  M.,  259, 372. 

Merritt,  Rev.  Timothy,  122. 

Methodism,  origin,  planting,  causes,  etc.,  3, 
11:  an  evolution,  6;  in  America,  10,  14; 
has  possibly  two  centers  in  America,  10 ; 
organized,  24;  discussed  at  Leeds,  24; 
strength  at  organization,  26;  in  Ken- 
tucky, 39  ;  in  Nova  Scotia,  39 ;  in  New 
England.  45;  a  rising  power,  72  ;  in  the 
war  of  1812,  87;  design  and  work,  123;  at 
the  close  of  1890,  317 ;  in  comparison,  348. 

Methodist  almanac  proposed  by  S.  Williams, 
121. 

Methodist  General  Biblical  Institute,  188. 
Methodist  hospital,  Brooklyn,  311. 
Methodist  Magazine,  61,  85. 
Methodist  Protestant  Church,  112. 
Methodist  sanitarium,  315. 
Methodist,  the,  229,  315. 
Methodist  university,  national,  345. 
Methodists,  first  meeting,  4  ;  first  society,  5 ; 

first  church,  5. 
Millerites,  149. 
Million  for  missions,  328. 
Ministerial  probation,  205. 
Ministers,  how  received  from  the  Church, 

South,  244. 
Mission  iu  South  America,  128. 
Missionaries  sent  to  the  Flathead  Indians,  128. 
Missionary  Bi-hop  for  Africa,  321. 
Missionary  Society,  94,  133,  348;  adopted  by 

General  Conference,  90. 
Missions  and  Mission  Conferences,  241,  254, 

257. 

Mitchel,  Rev.  John  T.,  179. 
Monroe,  Rev.  S.  Y.,  237,  254. 
Monrovia  Academy,  Africa,  118. 
Moody,  Rev.  Granville,  231. 
Moore,  Rev.  D.  H.,  314,  361. 
Moore's  Hill  College,  211. 
Moral  questions  in  the  General  Conference, 
337. 

Morris,  Rev.  Thomas  A.,  124, 133, 149, 188, 190, 
233,  236. 

Morris,  Rev.  S.,  130. 

Morris  and  Mastin,  38. 

Mount  Union  College,  187. 

Mulflnger,  Rev.  G.  L.,  243. 

Mutual  Rights,  109,  110. 

Names  of  those  at  first  Conference  in  Amer- 
ica, 15. 

Napa  College,  262. 

Nast,  Rev.  TVilliam,  135, 147,  179, 196,  208,  216, 

223,  243,  244,  260,  324, 341,  363. 
Nazarite  movement,  228. 
Negro  education,  216. 
Negroes,  testimony  of,  179. 
Nelles,  Rev.  S.  S.,  237. 
Nelson,  Judge,  decision  of,  202. 
Nelson,  Rev.  Reuben,  278,  294,  300. 
Nesbit,  Rev.  Samuel  H.,  223,  244,  260. 


New  bishop,  attempt  to  embarrass  him,  65. 
New  England  antislavery  society,  137. 
New  England  Missionary  Magazine,  109. 
New  England  Christian  Advocate,  152. 
New  York  Book  Concern  and  Mission  Rooms, 
268. 

Newbury  Seminary,  266. 
Newmau,  Rev.  J.  P.,  341. 
Newspaper  discussions,  182. 
ewton,  Rev.  Robert,  delegate  from  England, 
142. 

Ninde,  Rev.  W.  X.,  211,  321. 
Nolley,  Rev.  Richard,  90. 
No  member  allowed  to  preach  without  license. 
244. 

Non-assignment  of  work  to  Bishop  Andrew, 
reasons,  191. 

Northern  delegates  affected  by  the  secession 
of  1644,  174. 

Northwestern  Cliristian  Advocate,  208;  Uni- 
versity, 210. 

Norwegian  Loan  Library,  349. 

Noyps,  Rev.  Henry  S.,  210. 

Nutt,  Rev.  Cyrus,  135. 

Odell,  M.  F.,  230. 

Ohio  Wesleyan  University,  151. 

O'Kelly's  disloyalty,  50 ;  letter  to  Bishop  Coke, 
51 ;  five  planks,  51  ;  resolutions,  52 ;  seces- 
sion, 53;  interview  with  Bishop  Coke,  53: 
heterodoxy,  53. 

Old  Foundry,  5. 

Olin,  Rev.  Stephen,  118, 165, 175,  198. 

Opinion  of  the  bishops  as  to  the  case  of  Bishop 
Andrew,  191. 

Ordination  of  colored  local  preachers,  68 ;  of 
local  preachers,  80. 

Ordination  of  Garrettson  and  Cromwell  for 
Nova  Scotia,  30 ;  first,  west  of  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountains,  38. 

Ordinations,  24. 

Oregon,  mission  in,  150. 

Organization  question  at  General  Conference, 
1888,  333. 

Osborn,  Rev.  George,  313. 

Otterbein,  17. 

Owen,  Rev.  Isaac,  199,  254. 

Owen,  Richard,  13. 

Pacific  Clwistian  Advocate,  217,  310. 

Paine,  Rev.  Robert,  175, 186. 

Palatinates,  10. 

Pan-Presbyterian  Council,  313. 

Parsons,  Rev.  Charles  B.,  194,  200. 

Parties  in  the  Church  regarding  slavery,  148. 

Pastoral  address  of  1812,  S6. 

Pastoral  address  of  second  Ecumenical  Con- 
ference, 355. 

Patten,  Rev.  David,  194. 

Pattison,  Governor  Robert  E.,  334. 

Payne,  Rev.  Charles  H.,  151,  341,  361. 

Peace  impossible  between  slavery  and  anti- 
slavery,  151. 


INDEX. 


371 


Pearne,  Rev.  Thomas  H.,  216,  223. 
Peck,  Rev.  George,  147,  178,  196,  221,  294. 
Peck,  Rev.  J.  O.,  341,  361. 
Peck,  Rev.  Jesse  T.,  177,  190,  244,  272,  316. 
Peck's  picture  of  the  time  about  1836, 138. 
Period  of  activity,  93. 

Period  of  discussion  regarding  the  "Radi- 
cals," 112. 
Perry,  Rev.  J.  H.,  231. 
Perry  Hall,  18,  26. 

Pew-selling  and  pewed  churches,  93,  209. 

Philadelphia  Conference,  propositions  voted 
upon,  361. 

Philips,  Rev.  William,  134. 

Phillips,  John  M.,  324,  334,  341,  343. 

Phillips,  Rev.  Zebulon,  208. 

Phoebus,  Rev.  W.,  38. 

Pickering,  Rev.  George,  79. 

Pierce,  Rev.  Lovick,  73,  183,  186,  193,  194. 

Pilmoor,  Rev.  Joseph,  12,  15. 

Pitman,  Rev.  Charles,  179,  197. 

Pitts,  Rev.  Fountain  E.,  128. 

Pittsburg  and  Genesee  Conferences  denounce 
slavery,  137. 

Pittsburg  Christian  Advocate,  129. 

Pittsburg  Female  College,  211. 

Plan  of  adjustment,  177. 

"Plan  of  Separation,"  so-called,  175. 

Plan  of  Separation  overthrown,  196. 

Plea  for  a  separate  Church  in  Canada,  113. 

Plumb,  Rev.  David,  trial  of,  139. 

Poe,  Rev.  Adam,  208,  216,  2-^3,  244. 

Population  heterogeneous  in  America,  19. 

Porter,  Rev.  James,  175,  216,  223,  244. 

Power,  Rev.  John  H.,  197. 

Power  of  a  presiding  officer  to  refuse  to  enter- 
tain a  motion,  147. 

Poythress,  Rev.  F.,  38. 

Preachers,  native-born,  16. 

Preachers,  the  first,  sent  to  America,  12. 

Preachers  in  the  Conference  at  Half  Acres, 
38. 

Preachers  required  to  use  the  order  of  wor- 
ship, 109. 

Predestination  and  election  eliminated  from 
Articles  of  Religion,  31. 

Presents,  legislation  regarding,  66. 

Presiding  elders,  attempt  to  elect,  85 ;  ques- 
tion of,  92,  107,  215  ;  made  advisory  coun-' 
cil  of  the  Bishop,  101 ;  renewed  agitation, 
110 ;  may  send  a  substitute,  258. 

Presiding  elders,  origin  of,  42. 

Presiding  eldership  question,  64. 

Presiding  officer  in  absence  of  a  bishop,  70. 

Press  notices  of  first  Ecumenical  Conference, 
313. 

Price,  Professor  J.  C,  327. 
Progress,  105. 

Proposition  of  Slicer  regarding  Bishop  An- 
drew. 174 ;  of  Capers  for  two  General 
Conferences,  174. 


Proslavery,  158. 

Protest  of  Henry  B.  Bascom,  175. 

Protest  to  admission  of  women  to  General 

Conference  of  1888,  334. 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  organic  unity, 

339. 
Publishing,  7. 

Punshon,  Rev.  William  M.,  257. 

Quarterly  Review,  122, 124, 146, 147. 

Ralston,  Rev.  T.  N.,  186. 

Randall,  Rev.  Joshua,  his  heresy  denounced, 
trial,  115. 

Randolph-Macon  College,  129. 

Rankin,  Rev.  Tnomas,  14,  15,  16,  17,  22. 

Ratio  of  representation,  79. 

Ray,  Colonel  John  W.,  331. 

Raymond,  Rev.  Miner,  211. 

Reasons  given  by  the  abolitionists  for  seced- 
ing, 153. 

Reece,  Rev.  Richard,  delegate  in  1824  from 
England,  106. 

Reformers  in  convention,  111. 

Refusal  to  receive  Dr.  Lovick  Pierce  as  a  del- 
egate, 193. 

Reid,  Rev.  J.  M.,  259,  278,  294,  310, 316,  324, 363. 

Reply  of  General  Conference  of  1S48  to  the 
British  Conference,  192. 

Reply  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  240. 

Reply  to  the  protest,  178. 

Report  of  Committee  on  Organization  of  the 
Church,  South,  184. 

Report  on  the  declaration,  176. 

Reports  of  Bishops  Janes  and  Thomson,  256. 

Republican  Methodists,  53. 

Request  for  a  bishop  for  Africa,  133. 

Requisites  for  a  Methodist  bishop,  143. 

Resignation  of  Bishop  Hamline,  206. 

Resignation  of  Bishop  Hamline  criticised  In 
the  South,  207. 

Resolutions  of  1836,  131. 

Resolutions  of  Capers  and  Olin  as  to  Harding's 
case,  165;  regarding  Bishop  J.  O.  An- 
drew, 166;  of  Griffith  and  Davis,  168; 
of  Finley  and  Trimble,  109 ;  of  McFerrin 
and  Spicer,  175. 

Restrictive  rules,  80. 

Revision  of  the  ritual,  243. 

Revivals,  7,  81, 140. 

Revolutionary  war,  effects,  19. 

Richmond  Christian  Advocate,  146. 

Riadle,  Adam  N.,  201. 

Ridgeway,  Rev.  Henry  B.,  211. 

Ridpath,  Dr.  John  Clark,  331. 

Rigging  loft,  11. 

Rights  of  reserve  delegates,  83. 

Roberts,  Rev.  R.  R.,  92,  103,  157. 

Roberts's  proposal  for  eligibility  to  the  epis- 
copacy, 65. 

Robinson,  Rev.  George  C,  233. 

Rogers,  President  Henry  W.,  211. 

Roszell,  Rev.  Steven  G.,  131. 


INDEX. 


Rothweiler,  Rev.  Jacob,  243. 
Rounds,  Rev.  Nelson,  179. 
Ruff,  Rev.  Daniel,  16. 

Rule  limiting  tenure  of  office  rescinded,  138. 
Rules  formed  at  first  Conference  in  America, 
15. 

Rust,  Rev.  Richard  S.,  248,  324,  363. 

Ruter,  Rev.  Martin,  11)4,  107,  150. 

Ryerson,  Rev.  John,  142,  214. 

Sacraments,  discussion  upon,  15,  16. 

Sand  ford,  Rev.  Peter  P.,  139. 

Sargent,  Rev.  Thos.  B.,  142,  144,  160,  175. 

Scandinavian  Mission,  211. 

Scott,  Rev.  Levi,  196,  208,  315. 

Scott,  Rev.  Orange,  131,  152,  153,  165. 

Scott,  Rev.  Robinson,  213,  237. 

Scott,  Rev.  Thomas,  58. 

Secession,  History  of,  by  Charles  Elliott,  197. 

Secession  of  abolitionists,  152. 

Secret  societies,  207. 

Secret  societies,  petitions  against,  123. 

Seney,  George  L,  311. 

Separate  sittings  demanded  in  General  Con- 
ference of  1892,  357. 

Sermon  of  Dr.  Coke  at  the  adjournment  of 
Conference,  1792,  54. 

Settlement  with  the  Church,  South,  217. 

Seys,  Rev.  John,  150,  218,  251. 

Shadford,  Rev.  George,  20. 

S'.iinn,  Rev.  Asa,  112. 

Simonds,  Rev.  S.  D.,  199,  20S. 

Simpson,  Mrs.  Bishop,  198. 

Simpson,  Rev.  Matthew,  135,  196,  208,  215,  217, 
313,  304. 

Simpson's  remarks  regarding  secession,  113. 
Simpson's  view  of  the  Church  under  slavery, 
132. 

Sims,  Rev.  Charles  N.,  263. 

Slavery,  62,  66,  71,  83,  102,  108,  130,  133,  223, 
238,  257. 

Slicer,  Rev.  Henry,  169,  174. 

Small,  Rev.  Samuel  W.,  316. 

Smith,  Rev.  C.  AY.,  324.  341,  361. 

Smith,  Rev.  Henry,  56. 

Smith,  Rev.  W.  A.,  163,  164,  200,  217. 

Snethen,  Rev.  Nicholas,  111. 

Snively,  Rev.  W.  A.,  833. 

Soldiers  to  the  front,  230. 

Soule  elected  a  bishop,  98 ;  declined  ordina- 
tion, 101 ;  again  elected  a  bishop,  107 ; 
a  delegate  to  England,  144 :  addressed  the 
Conference  regarding  the  Andrew  case, 
168,  170;  invites  Andrew  to  preside  in 
Conference,  183, 192;  not  allowed  to  pre- 
side in  the  Ohio  Conference,  185  ;  letter  to 
the  General  Conference  of  1848,  194. 

South,  the  attitude  toward  the  abolition  move- 
ment, 157. 

Southern  Convention  at  Louisville,  131. 

Southern  General  Conference  at  Petersburg, 
Va.,  186. 


Sowter,  Joseph,  14\ 
Spanish  Hymnal,  311. 

Spaulding,  Rev.  Justin,  in  South  America,  128. 

Spaulding,  Rev.  W.  J.,  204. 

Spicer,  Rev.  T.,  175. 

Spirituous  liquois,  120. 

Stanberry,  Henry,  200. 

Standing  committees  ordered  in  1816,  91. 

State  of  the  country,  240. 

Statistics,  86,  123,  134,  148,  159,  188,  204,  234, 
252,  255,  268. 

Stephenson,  Rev.  Thomas,  343;  Rev.  Dr.,  of 
England,  353. 

Stevens,  Rev.  Abel,  154. 

Stilwellites,  96. 

Stinson,  Rev.  Joseph,  142. 

Stockton,  Rev.  W.  S.,  111. 

Storrs,  Rev.  George,  130. 

Stowe,  Rev.  W.  P.,  324,  341. 

Strange,  Rev.  John,  82. 

Strawbridge,  Rev.  Robert,  16. 

Strong,  Rev.  James,  220,  234,  270. 

Subjects  discussed  at  Second  Ecumenical  Con- 
Conference,  354. 

Success,  how  produced,  320. 

Suit  in  New  York,  202. 

Suit  in  Ohio,  200. 

Suits  against  the  Book  Concern,  200. 
Summers,  Rev.  T.  O.,  183. 
Sunday  school,  first  one  formed  in  America, 
45. 

Sunday  School  Advocate  established,  189. 

Sunday  School  Journal,  226. 

Sunday  School  Union,  148,  349. 

Sunday  schools,  108. 

Sunday  schools  and  Tract  Society,  209. 

"Sunday  Service1'  and  "  Hymns,1"  31. 

Sunderland,  Rev.  Leroy,  138,  153,  155. 

Superintendents  called  "  Bishop,11  34. 

Supplies,  raising  of.  67. 

Swedish  Theological  Seminary,  262. 

Swedish  work,  187. 

Swoop,  Rev.  Mr.,  a  Lutheran  pastor,  17. 

Swormstedt,  Rev.  Leroy,  134. 196,  200, 208, 216. 

Syracuse  University,  262. 

Taylor,  Rev.  Marshall  \Y.,  324,  331. 

Taylor,  Rev.  William,  199,  321,  336,  360. 

Tefft,  Rev.  Benjamin  F.,  196. 

Temperance,  62,  116,  179,  195,  224,  340. 

Tennessee  Conference  organized,  247. 

Testimony  of  colored  persons,  144,  179. 

Texas  Mission,  149. 

Theological  education  urged,  335. 

Theological  school  at  Bareilly,  India,  262. 

Thoburn,  Rev.  J.  M.,  341,  359. 

Thomas,  Rev.  E.,  216,  223,  244,  260. 

Thomas,  Rev.  H.  W.,  trial,  314. 

Thomson,  Rev.  Edward.  151, 179,  223,  244,  263. 

Thornton,  Rev.  AA\  L.,  237. 

Tiffin,  Governor,  58. 

Time  limit,  70,  215. 


INDEX. 


Tippett,  Rev.  C.  B.,  179. 

Tomlinson,  Uev.  Joseph  S.,  104. 

Tract  Society,  349. 

Tranquillity  in  tlieCnurch,  54. 

Travels  of  the,  bishops,  81. 

Trimble,  Rev.  Joseph  M.,  190,  205,  221,  244, 

323,  327. 
Troy  University,  220. 
True,  Rev.  Charles  K.,  trial,  139. 
True  Wesleyan,  153. 
Trustees  of  the  Church,  237. 
Tunnell,  Rev.  John,  37. 
Tuppey,  a  local  preacher  at  Quebec,  40. 
Two  episcopal  plans,  191. 
Umpqua  Academy,  211. 
Unconstitutionality  of  proposition  to  elect 

presiding  elders,  100, 102. 
Uniformity  of  worship,  33(5. 
Union  chapel,  Cincinnati,  O.,  232. 
Union  societies,  110,  111. 
United  Brethren  Church,  17,  313. 
University  of  the  Pacific,  204. 
Utah  University,  346. 
Utica  convention,  139, 155. 
Vail,  Rev.  Stephen  M.,  188. 
Vasey,  Rev.  Thomas,  24,  28. 
Vermont  Methodist  Seminary,  129. 
Veto  power,  107. 

Vincent,  Rev.  John  H.,  226,  260,  324,  341,  346. 

Virginia  and  North  Carolina  Conference 
Journal,  146. 

Visiting  delegates,  1860,  222. 

Visit  of  the  Ecumenical  Conference  to  the 
White  House,  354. 

Vote  on  constitutional  questions  in  1892,  360. 

Vote  on  the  Finley-Trimble  resolution,  173. 

Vote  on  the  Philadelphia  Conference  proposi- 
tion, 361. 

Walden,  Rev.  J.  M.,  259,  321. 

Walker,  Rev.  Jesse,  74. 

Walther,  Rev.  J.  L.,  243. 

Ware,  Rev.  Thomas,  39,  57,  78. 

Warren,  Rev.  H.  W.,  306. 

Warren,  Rev.  O.  H.,  324,  341. 

Warren,  Rev.  W.  F.,  2^6. 

Washington,  President,  40,  41. 

Watson,  Rev.  J.  V.,  208,  216,  219. 

Watters,  Rev  William,  16,  33. 

Waugh,  Rev.  Beverly,  73,  116,  122,  1P3,  171, 
190,  219. 

Wayman,  Bishop,  353. 

Webb,  Captain,  11,  40. 

Webb's  plea  for  American  Methodism,  14. 

Wentworth,  Rev.  Erastus,  144. 

Wesley  Chapel,  Washington,  D.C.,  condemned 
secession,  182. 


Wesley,  Rev.  John,  born,  2 ;  at  Charter  House 
School,  2 ;  and  the  Holy  Club,  2 ;  curate  for 
bis  father,  3;  missionary  to  America,  3; 
met  the  Moravians,  B ;  return  to  England, 
5;  conversion,  3 ;  visit  to  Herrnhut,  4 ;  calm 
address,  20 ;  letter  to  Asbury,  25 ;  letter  to 
Christmas  Conference,  27;  certificate  of 
Coke's  ordination,  34 ;  Bible  presented  to 
the  General  Conference  of  1884, 319. 

Wesleyan  General  Conferences,  156. 

Wesleyan  journal  at  Charlestown,  S.  C,  109. 

Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  formed,  155. 

Wesleyan  Repository,  109. 

Wesleyan  University,  Middletown,  Conn.,  117, 
311. 

West,  Rev.  R.  A.,  176, 194. 

Western  Christian  Advocate,  126. 
Westmoreland  petition,  148, 163. 
Whatcoat,  Rev.  Richard,  24,  25,  26,  38,  66, 
74. 

Whedon.  Rev.  Daniel  D.,  223,  244,  259,  328. 

Wheeler,  Rev.  John,  204. 

White,  Bishops,  and  Coke,  51,  76, 77. 

White,  Judge,  20,  56.  , 

Whiteneld,  5,  6,  7,  13. 

Whitworth,  Rev.  Abraham,  15. 

Wickedness  of  the  times,  8. 

Wightman,  Rev.  W.  M.,147;  articles  regard- 
ing abolitionsim,  158. 

Wllberforce  University,  216. 

Wilbraham  Academy,  266. 

Wiley,  Rev.  Isaac  W.,  244,  259,  272,  325. 

Willamette  University,  187. 

Williams,  Rev.  Robert,  12. 

Williamsport  Dickinson  Seminary,  187. 

Wilson,  Rev.  John,  38,  69,  78. 

Winans,  Rev.  William,  107,  175,  183. 

Winchell,  Dr.  Alexander,  263. , 

Wise,  Rev.  Daniel,  216,  223,  244,  260. 

Wolff  collection  of  engravings  at  Syracuse 
University,  263. 

Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  273, 
349;  Home  Missionary  Society,  318,  350. 

Wooster,  Rev.  Robert,  38. 

Worship,  uniformity  in,  336. 

Work  in  the  South,  245. 

Wright,  Rev.  John  F.,  134,  147,  216. 

Wright  sent  to  America,  13, 15. 

Wyandotte  Indians  and  mission,  199, 322. 

Yearbry,  Rev.  Joseph,  15. 

Yost,  Rev.  Cm  243- 

Young,  Rev.  D„  124. 

Youth's  Magazine,  147. 

Zion's  Herald,  109, 152. 

Zion's  Watchman,  131, 152. 


